By Ray Hickson
Trainer Nathan Doyle wants to keep the steps as small as possible, for now, with promising three-year-old Boston Rocks but is confident he has a city class horse on his hands.
The gelding hasn’t met defeat since joining Doyle earlier this year, in a trial or a race, and the Newcastle trainer hopes that run continues as he chases a hat-trick in the PKF Sydney Handicap (1250m) at Kensington today.
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle.Credit: Getty
Boston Rocks made his debut on the same track back in February, starting at $19 and finishing eighth of nine, but he hasn’t looked back since as he’s recorded easy wins at Gosford and Wyong this time in.
“He’s taking on some seasoned horses but on what he’s done to date you can’t be disappointed,” Doyle said.
“He’s on an upward spiral and I expect him to continue on that.
“He’s going well, he’s on the improve, and it’s probably the right race to try him. He gets there in good order and I expect him to aim up.”
In his provincial wins, Boston Rocks has sat right on the speed and Doyle said he wouldn’t be concerned if that was the case at Kensington but is adamant he has more than one string to his bow.
He’s actually not a three-year-old until late October but taking on older horses with 54.5kg is a more appealing option to Doyle than throwing Boston Rocks in the deep end against his own age.
“He gets in quite well at the weights and I’d be disappointed if he doesn’t aim up in Saturday grade in time,” he said.
“He’s definitely thriving, he’s a horse that’s going to improve the day we can ride him with a bit of cover. I don’t know if that will pan out [on Wednesday] but we ride him with a sit in trackwork and he seems a more dynamic horse.
“The day something comes to challenge him I think he will find again. He hasn’t really been tested yet, but we might see here where he’s at moving forward.”
Doyle is also represented by Cheerful Legend in the Benchmark 72 event having saved him from Saturday’s Midway for this race and he said it’s a nice starting point.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
