By Neil Evans
Drums Of War turned in a trial to get tongues wagging, and you might have been forgiven for thinking he was about to go around for another lap.
On Tuesday, the three-year-old gelding makes his home track debut in the opening race – a Maiden Plate over 900m – of the NSW feature meeting at Newcastle.
Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle.Credit: Getty
A powerful free-striding son of famed US stallion American Pharoah, Drums Of War begins his career behind an emphatic one-off trial win at Muswellbrook 12 days ago.
Bounding to the front early, he worked clear approaching the turn, and the closer he got to the winning post seemingly the stronger he looked, claiming the 800m trial by more than four lengths, with still so much in the tank.
Drums Of War clocked 47.80 seconds for the journey in soft ground, easily the fastest that morning, and connections had no hesitation in getting him ready for a debut run.
Out of the Lonhro mare War Heroine, Drums Of War is based in the Nathan Doyle stable. After being ridden by Kacie Adams in the trial, top metropolitan jockey Tim Clark takes over for the real thing.
Jumping from the outside barrier over the short course, the early speed of Drums Of War will be put to an immediate test.
The Richard and Will Freedman stable at Rosehill has accepted with two runners, Merchant Navy colt Navy Blood who made a big impression on debut when running home hard to be beaten under a length at Muswellbrook; while stablemate filly Art Volant was also close-up in the placings in her first start at Kembla.
The market will also be key around another local in Winning Rupert colt Curl Curl who resumes for a second prep behind two progressive trials for the Paul Perry yard.
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
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