Doyle stable takes hot form to Port Macquarie after winning week

A couple of new arrivals with their best racing in front of them are set to continue the momentum for one of NSW’s best performed provincial stables at Thursday’s Port Macquarie meeting.

Newcastle-based Nathan Doyle heads up the coast coming off a strong week around the wider region.

Racing heads to Port Macquarie on Thursday.Credit: Getty

Maiden winners Into Brooklyn at Muswellbrook and Just Response at Gosford came either side of Harlem Queen claiming the Listed Ladies’ Day Cup over 1500m at Hawkesbury last Saturday.

He now reloads with lightly raced three-year-old Myriad having his first start off a 30-week break since transferring from the Godolphin camp in Victoria.

The son of Frosted failed to fire in three runs as a two-year-old colt through autumn, but after a lengthy break, Doyle wasted no time in having him gelded, and fitting him with two 1000m trials.

Drawn to get cover in a Maiden handicap over 1000m with Lee Magorrian in the saddle, Myriad is primed to return a different horse.

Then in the final race on the program – Class 1 handicap over 1100m – the stable unleashes a two-pronged attack which threatens to corner the race.

Most eyes will be on promising four-year-old mare Shotgun Bella having her first outing for the yard since transferring down from the Cody Morgan stable at Tamworth.

A smart daughter of Group 1 Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, Shotgun Bella made a winning statement on debut in early March as a heavily backed favourite before being spelled.

She returned with consecutive and fast-finishing placings at Tamworth before the decision was made to send her to Newcastle.

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Now six weeks on, she returns via an eye-catching provincial trial, and is set to go off a short-priced favourite from the inside draw.

And the Doyle camp will be eying a closing quinella, with tough four-year-old Iron Fury looming as a threat.

Another ex-Victorian, Iron Fury chased home the smart Zocketman in a CL1 when having his first run for the stable 17 days ago, and his only win so far from five starts came at the same stage in his initial prep down south.

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