HAWKESBURY THE PERFECT CHOICE FOR CHURCHILL’S

Lightly raced four-year-old mare Churchill’s Choice scored a well-deserved Black-Type win when successful in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) on May 2. The Hawkesbury Cup was the feature race on the Provincial club’s stand-alone Saturday race meeting, and carried with it Big Dance eligibility. Churchill’s Choice had previously finished second in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas and the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes however shook off the bridesmaid tag at the Clarendon circuit.

Raced by Kevin Hill who bred her, Churchill’s Choice took her overall record to four wins and two minor placings from fifteen starts. “It is a fantastic result for Kevin who has been in a Brisbane hospital battling ill health” said Nathan when interviewed post-race. “She has at times been a frustrating mare as we have known how much ability she possesses. She was great first-up, then very plain second-up. We then decided she runs her best races when kept fresh, hence the five-week gap (with a trial at Gosford) between runs. She is a mare who can hit a flat spot from the 500m to the 300m in her races, so it was great for Regan (Bayliss) to get a feel for her in her recent trial, and you seen today he really got at her in that section of the race”.

Churchill’s Choice now becomes eligible for the $3,000,000 Big Dance to be run at Royal Randwick on November 3. Before then however Churchill’s Choice will look to create a little history when she endeavours to be the first horse to take out the Hawkesbury Cup – Scone Cup double in the same year. “She will now head to the Scone Cup where once again Regan will be aboard” added Nathan.

Regan Bayliss, similarly to Nathan was over the moon with the win. “She is a highly talented mare but she has her share of tricks. I was happy I had been aboard her in the trial as she hit the flat spot like she did in the trial, only this time I was ready for it. Although I was wider than I would have liked to have been, once she balanced up in the straight she really worked through her gears and she was holding her rivals on the line. She has been runner-up a couple of times, so it was nice to get her a black-type win”.

Churchill’s Choice took her career earnings to $460,500 with the Hawkesbury win, with the promise of much more in the future.

SUCCESSFUL SIX WEEKS LANDS FOURTEEN WINNERS

The Doyle stable has enjoyed a very successful period in recent times, landing fourteen winners since March 17. Malabar, Shotgun Bella, The Extreme Cat, Midnight Opal, Lightning Glory (2), Mornington Pier, Just Response (2), Turning Circle, Bifurcation, Into Brooklyn, Dianella and Churchill’s Choice all tasting victory in the past six weeks. These wins see the stable sitting on forty-two wins for the 2025-26 season, with forty-three seconds and thirty-two thirds from 243 runners, placing it seventeenth in the NSW Trainers Premiership.

“The recent run of success is a great reward for our loyal owners and a fitting reward for all the hard work of the staff. We are thankful for every opportunity we get, and I can only hope the recent run continues” stated Nathan.

MERCY ME HOPING TO BRING MORE “JOY” TO THE STABLE

Smart three-year-old filly Mercy Me will look to extend her winning run to four when she contests the Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone on May 16, day two of the rich Scone Cup Carnival. Mercy Me went to the paddock on the back of three straight wins, including a track-record breaking win at Gosford. “Mercy Me has been prepared by two recent trials, and this race has long been on our radar. She is a fast filly with plenty of upside – she has come back from a short break extremely well. It is a carnival we like to target, and Mercy Me will be one of a number of horses we run over the two days” said Nathan.

“Churchill’s Choice will contest the Scone Cup and there is a chance Harlem Queen may resume in the Group 3 Arrowfield Dark Jewel Classic (1400m)”. With the Saturday carrying Metropolitan status it is a great opportunity for our owners to land some great prizemoney. 

APPRENTICES CONTINUING TO KICK GOALS

To go along with the recent run of success from the stable, stable apprentices Shannen Llewellyn and Liberty Smyth continue to boot home winners.

Shannen has recently had her Provincial claim reduced to 2kg when she registered her 20^th Metropolitan/Provincial winner aboard The Face (trained by Tony Ball). Shannen has ridden successfully in the country for a number of months without a claim and is still great value at the Provincial tracks, and her 3kg claim in the Metropolitan area will prove invaluable during the winter months. Shannen has ridden forty-six winners this season with ninety-one minor placings.

Liberty is now only one win away from reducing her country claim to 2kg (she retains 3kg in the Metropolitan/Provincial area) after chalking up nineteen winners in only 116 career rides. Liberty recently had her first day of riding at a Provincial meeting, scoring aboard Auzstar for Port Macquarie trainer Marc Quinn. Similarly, to Shannen her claim “in the bush” will be vital through the winter period.

YEARLING UPDATE

Our yearlings are currently progressing through the early stages of their breaking-in preparation, where they begin learning the fundamentals of becoming racehorses. This important phase is all about education, building confidence, routine, and understanding of their work.

Both our Snitzel x Our Crown Mistress filly and Satono Aladdin x Sweet Inspiration filly have shown great professionalism, a positive attitude, and a strong willingness to learn. These are exactly the traits you like to see at this stage and provide a solid foundation moving forward.

For more information contact us at bloodstock@doyleracing.com or visit the website doyleracing.com.au

See below for their latest updates.
Snitzel x Our Crown Mistress
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Satono Aladdin x Sweet Inspiration
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