Local trainer Nathan Doyle’s double at the Newcastle Jockey Club’s meeting on Saturday took his season tally to 49 winners. The Hunter Valley born trainer produced his filly Overriding for her first start this preparation in the Insight Building Services F&M Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m), and she was highly impressive.
A drifter with Corporate Bookmakers, the three-year-old opened at $2.40 and drifted to $3.20 by start time. Overriding had three starts in her initial preparation, winning by three lengths on debut on the Beaumont track on Boxing Day before a half head defeat at Wyong. She went for a spell after her third start at Kembla, and the filly bolted in with a recent Wyong trial.
“Overriding has only had one trial but I am confident fitness won’t beat her, and I believe she will be too classy” Doyle told Sky Racing prior to the race. Overriding cruised to the lead halfway down the straight and quickly put the issue beyond doubt.
Doyle’s four-year-old Kingdom Of Gold showed a liking for his home track when he scored the narrowest of wins in the Lambourne Partners Consulting Benchmark 68 Handicap (1850m). A son of Dubai World Cup Winner Animal Kingdom, Kingdom Of Gold has won three races with three placings on the Newcastle track. Both of Doyle’s winners were ridden by Lake Macquarie based jockey Koby Jennings.
Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith also landed a double on the program, taking his tally of winners for the season to 74. Smith’s unraced filly Split Decision held off the fast-finishing Newcastle gelding Toyger to win the Verve Partners 2YO Maiden Plate (900m). Smith’s Great Britain import Time Quest made an impressive Australian debut in the QMF Constructions Maiden Plate (1400m). The four-year-old had been runner up in his two overseas starts in May and June last year, and had trialed twice in Sydney recently.
Paul Perry’s three-year-old Nosey Parker completed a hat trick of victories on his home track when he won the Team EST CG&E Benchmark 64 Handicap (1250m). Perry scratched Nosey Parker from last weekend’s Scone meeting with Saturday’s race in mind. Newcastle born jockey Blake Spriggs has ridden the son of Choisir in all three of his recent wins.