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By John Curtis

Newcastle's newest Group 1-winning trainer Nathan Doyle has lost his star filly Harlem Queen from Brisbane’s winter carnival, but is ready to strike at Hawkesbury on Thursday with three pre-post favourites.

Harlem Queen, who was scheduled to contest Saturday week’s Group 2-The Roses (2000m) at Doomben as a pre-cursor to the Gr 1-Qld Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later, bled from one nostril after galloping yesterday morning and the matter was reported to Racing Queensland stewards.

“She will come home on Friday evening and go for a spell,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said this morning.

Caltsar (Ash Morgan) lands the cash at Newcastle. Image by Bradley Photographers

“Fortunately we still have Queensland Guineas runner-up Churchill’s Choice, who will run in The Roses and Koby Jennings returns from Victoria to ride her.

“We’re looking forward to Hawkesbury with two really good chances and possibly three.”

Caltsar ($2.15 favoruite on TAB) is in the Quali-Pro Marvel-ous Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m), but is also an acceptor for the Class 1 Handicap (1600m) at Scone on Friday, and a decision will be made today which way he will head.

New stable acquisition Queen’s Rhapsody ($1.80 fav), who races in the same Kurrinda Bloodstock colours as Doyle’s maiden Group 1 winner Private Harry, begins a new campaign in the Trefinti Provincial 3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m), and Newcastle apprentice William Stanley claims 3kg to lessen her weight to 58kg.

The three-year-old filly was a dual acceptor, and understandably lines up in this race where she drew the inside rather than the DLF Turf Front Runners Super Maiden Handicap (1100m) after drawing the outside (12).

“Queen’s Rhapsody has been runner-up at all her four starts in town, and was beaten by some nice horses,” Dyson said.

“She has won both her trials since joining our stable, and Ben Looker purposely gave her a solid hitout in a 1000m heat on the Beaumont Track last week with this Hawkesbury race in mind.

“Horses are a confidence animal, and hopefully she can win tomorrow and go on to better things.”

Hidden Motive (Ash Morgan) opens the batting for Doyle in the TPG Greens Grade 2YO Maiden Plate (1100m), and heads the early market at $2.10.

“He has been placed at both city runs this time in, and comes back to provincial grade after finishing third over 1100m at [Royal] Randwick on April 26,” Dyson said. “Hidden Motive certainly gets his chance to break through.”

Caltsar, who races in the Australian Bloodstock colours, was a $10,000 “cheapie” yearling buy at the 2023 Inglis HTBA sale. The Calyx three-year-old scored on debut in a Midway Maiden Plate (1400m) at Newcastle on April 23 as a $1.24 hotpot, following two trials victories at home.

“Caltsar is still a work in progress, but is heading in the right direction,” Dyson said. “He did a bit wrong even though he won, but will be better this time if he runs at Hawkesbury and getting to 1600m suits.”

Doyle, who is on the verge of 300 career wins (currently 297, including 37 so far this season), has won 20 races at Hawkesbury for an 18% strike rate, and has a 44% place strike rate at the track.

Kembla Grange trainer Ross McConville decided to take on Queen’s Rhapsody in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1100m) with his consistent gelding Donwon ($8), who has been placed at four of his seven starts.

Donwon, a younger half-brother to McConville’s seven-times winner South Of India, was runner-up on resumption at Canterbury in a CG&E Maiden Plate (1100m) on April 21. The winner Secure confirmed the form by posting another success at Warwick Farm on May 7 over 1300m.

As Doyle has done with Queen’s Rhapspody, McConville also sought an apprentice for Donwon, and has booked 3kg claimer Holly Durnan, who has been riding for only two years and has already tallied 68 winners.

After 20 meetings, the current premiership standings are:

TRAINERS
B. Widdup 11
A. & R. Archibald 11
G. Ryan & S. Alexiou 9
J. Thompson 9
C. Waller 9

JOCKEYS
Z. Lloyd 15
J. Ford 10
T. Schiller 9
J. Collett 7
Z. Wadick 7

APPRENTICES
Z. Lloyd 8
Z. Wadick 7
B. Nock 6

The rail is 2m out from 1100m to the 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit, and racecourse manager Digby Nuthall at 7.30am today posted a Soft 7 rating. No rain was recorded in the previous 24 hours, but 9mm has fallen in the past week.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here