NEWCASTLE’S exciting prospect Private Harry is ready for his city debut en route to a $3m interstate assignment in the new year.
Trainer Nathan Doyle has earmarked Saturday’s 3YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) against his own age at Rosehill Gardens, striving to maintain the colt’s unbeaten record.
Victories by nearly three and a half lengths at home in a Super Maiden Plate (900m) on November 2 and a hollow seven lengths in a Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury 19 days later not only stamped Private Harry as a young horse clearly on the rise, but also earned him a slot in the inaugural $3m Magic Millions Sunlight (1100m) for three-year-olds at a twilight meeting at the Gold Coast on January 4.
The slot is held by Southern Highlands-based B2B Thoroughbreds, which paid $175,000 for one of the 12 slots to be part of this new addition to the Magic Millions carnival, and clinched a deal with Hunter Valley-based Kurrinda Bloodstock for the Harry Angel colt to line up.
B2B Thoroughbreds also is a new part-owner of Private Harry, having secured a 2.5 per cent interest in him for $25,250 online through Inglis Digital in early November.
That purchase in effect valued Private Harry at just over $1m.
Ash Morgan, who has partnered Private Harry in both his impressive wins, continues his association with him on Saturday.
“Private Harry is a cracker of a colt,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said.
“The Rosehill race will be his final lead-up to the Magic Millions Sunlight as he has to come back to 1100m at the Gold Coast.
“However, Nathan may trial him in between as there will be a month between the two races.”
A $115,000 purchase by Kurrinda Bloodstock and Doyle at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale, Private Harry is the fourth foal of the Congrats mare Happy Pilgrim, who won three country races (including a swansong Sapphire Coast Benchmark 55 Handicap, 1280m in July 2017) for trainer Luke Pepper before being retired to stud.
Kurrinda and Doyle earlier this year went back to the Classic sale, and paid $100,000 to buy Private Harry’s younger half-brother (by Anders).
In keeping with the theme of the name, the now two-year-old will race as Lance Corporal.
Meanwhile, Doyle is likely to have a number of runners at Rosehill on Saturday.
Midnight Opal will be amongst the entries for the CG&E Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m), Wooloowin for the F&M version of that race, and Celestial Fury for the 4YO & Up Benchmark 78 Handicap (2000m).
Midnight Opal has been placed at his last two city starts, promising mare Wooloowin has won three of her five starts and was placed at The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange on November 23, and Celestial Fury won a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1900m) at the Canterbury night meeting on November 15.
Along with Private Harry, Doyle is also hoping to have stablemate Hidden Motive at the Gold Coast for the $3m Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on January 11.
The Capitalist colt, who also races in the Kurrinda colours, was rested after finishing fourth on debut in the Group 3 Breeders’ Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 5.
He may trial on the Beaumont track on Wednesday.
. HOOFNOTE: Kurrinda Bloodstock recently lost their 27-year-old warhorse Carael Boy, whose 20 career wins included the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) and dead-heat with Bart Cummings’ High Cee in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m), both in 2005.
Larry Cassidy was his rider in both races.
Story John Curtis, December 1, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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