HARRY’S SISTER NOT READY FOR “TACTICAL EMPLOYMENT” JUST YET

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AS Private Harry prepares for a new career at stud, his kid sister Lady Lieutenant is showing she is ready to uphold the family tradition of winning.

But not just yet.

As with big brother, she won’t begin her racing career until she is three years of age.

Lady Lieutenant, a half-sister (by Captivant) to Private Harry, won her first barrier trial at Wyong last Wednesday, showing pace in her 845m heat and comfortably defeating Wyong pair The Crusher and La Seeker.

However, she has gone to Kurrinda Bloodstock’s property at Fordwich in the Hunter Valley for a break.

“Lady Leiutenant hasn’t been a natural, and a lot of work has gone into getting her ready to finally trial,” Kurrinda Bloodstock principal Sean Driver said today.

“We’re not pushing her.

“She will spell for about six weeks and then go back to Nathan Doyle at Newcastle.

“Private Harry trialled as a two-year-old, but didn’t start racing until four months into his three-year-old season, and it will be similar with this filly.”

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Lady Lieutenant fetched $220,000 at last year’s Inglis Classic yearling sale, understandably nearly double the $115,000 Kurrinda paid for “Harry” at the same sale two years earlier.

“Even though they are different in colour (Private Harry is a bay and Lady Lieutenant is a chestnut), there are definite similarities,” Driver said.

“They have the same bum and head, and Shannen Llewellyn, who rode the filly in her Wyong trial, said when she turned her head in the barrier stalls, it was reminiscent of Private Harry.

“There’s no rush with her, and hopefully we can get good results as we did with ‘Harry’.

“Private Harry will stand his first season at Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley (now owned by Yu Long Investments) at a fee of $27,500, and there has already been good support from broodmare owners.

“Yu Long is sending a lot of their own mares to him.”

Lady Lieutenant’s trainer Doyle prepared Private Harry for wins at his first five starts, including the $3m Magic Millions Sunlight Plate at the Sunshine Coast and Group 1 The Galaxy at Rosehill Gardens last year.

Kurrinda also purchased the half-brother Lance Corporal (by Anders) to both Private Harry and Lady Lieutenant for $100,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale (before Private Harry had raced).

However, the rising four-year-old has had more than his share of injury dramas and is yet to race, but is progressing well with renowned equine injury rehab guru Lee Evison at his property south-east of Melbourne.

Lady Lieutenant’s trial success was one of three for the Newcastle trainer (the others were Heroic Deed and Better Late) and kick-started another treble, this time in races at two tracks yesterday.

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Doyle scored with Sprightly Affair and Turning Circle at his home track, and Aroha Stone at Royal Randwick, boosting his career tally to 366.

Sprightly Affair ($7.50) at only her second start easily defeated Lady Segosha ($4.60) and $2 favorite Yvonne’s Joy in the 2&3YO Maiden Handicap (900m), and Turning Circle ($3.30) gamely held out Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s home track debut winner Street Vanquisher ($12) in a tight finish to the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1300m).

Jean Van Overmeire rode both winners.

Doyle then captured the Randwick closer with four-year-old mare Aroha Stone, who landed some good bets in firming from double figures to start at $9.50.

Ridden by stable apprentice Shannen Llewellyn, Aroha Stone relished the heavy track in defeating South Australian visitor Swiftie Harriet ($5.50) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) for fillies and mares.

Aroha Stone’s liking for heavy ground is such that she has never missed out in six starts; two wins and four placings.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JULY 13, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS