Source: Herald Sun, Clinton Payne


Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyleis full of optimism that a resolution to Churchill’s Choice’s ineffective racing pattern can deliver another result in Friday’s big $200,000 Listed Scone Cup. Churchill's Choice ended a lean 16 months when storming home to score a gritty win in the Group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m) two weeks ago.

The win was the mare’s first at Group level, ensuring her value skyrocketed post her racing career. Regan Bayliss was the man in the saddle at Hawkesbury, riding the mare under race conditions for the first time and Doyle says the tactics he adopted were the catalyst to the big odds success.

“She gets back and runs on, and those sorts of horses need a bit to go their way and she was making things even harder by dropping the bridle at around the 600m,” Doyle said.

“That’s when you should be getting into the race but she was going backwards.

“Regan changed that up at Hawkesbury and it was the first time a rider has got on their bike on her so early.

“There was no flat spot at Hawkesbury and that’s what changed the outcome.”

Churchill’s Choice rises from 54kg to 56kg on Saturday but that weight rise is offset by the limit weight increasing a kilo to 54kg and the four-year-old has drawn favourably in barrier three.

“Those at the top of the weights have gone up a kilo so according to the handicapper it’s not as strong as Hawkesbury,” Doyle said.

“We won’t be going to the fence on her and the plan will be to put her into the moving line so he can get moving when he wants to go.”

The 1600 metre quality handicap that carries Big Dance qualification is the feature race on the opening meeting of the Scone Race Club’s two-day carnival which will showcase six black-type races with $2.27 million in prizemoney up for grabs across the 18 races on Friday and Saturday.

The Scone track was rated a soft (5) when acceptances closed on Wednesday with the odd shower predicted in the Hunter leading into Friday and Saturday.

Nathan Doyle and Regan Bayliss after the Hawkesbury Gold Cup win of Churchill's Choice. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

“I’d expect it will be a good four or a soft five and that will suit her perfectly,” Doyle said.

“She’s really bounced out of the Hawkesbury win and it will do her confidence the world of good.”