Gold Coast trainer Noel Doyle is confident talented three-year-old Biggles can continue his successful march towards next month’s Magic Millions Guineas in the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Biggles, who is nicknamed “Tiger” around Doyle’s Gold Coast stables, has won three of his seven starts including an impressive first-up victory over 1000 metres at Eagle Farm on December 3.
“We call him Tiger after Tiger Woods because his dam is Be Faithful,” Doyle, referring to the champion golfer’s marital indiscretions, said.
“Straight after we bought him we thought Tiger was an appropriate stable name.”
Biggles, a $160,000 buy at the Magic Millions sales, was gelded after his second start when he finished seventh at Eagle Farm in February.
“He ran a good race to finish second in his first start but he went badly at his next run so we put it down to him squeezing himself,” Doyle said.
“His testicles were as big as watermelons so we had to cut him.”
Doyle rates Biggles highly and isn’t worried by his opposition in the $1 million Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) on his home track on January 14.
“I’ve got a very high opinion of him and I’m not afraid of anything in the Magic Millions,” Doyle said.
Doyle admitted Biggles’ first-up victory did surprise him a little.
“I expected him to run very well but not in the manner in which he won the race,” he said.
“He was slow away and was last after 150 metres and what he did to win was exceptional.
“He’s come through that run well and has improved a lot. Whatever beats him will win.”
Doyle will be guided by Biggles’ performance in the Gold Edition Plate whether he needs another run before the Magic Millions Guineas.
“The 1400 metres on his home track is going to be ideal for him and I think he’s got a really big future,” Doyle said.
“Whether he needs another run will depend on his performance on Saturday but he could go straight into the Magic Millions after this run if he goes well enough.”
Doyle considered sending Biggles across the border as part of his Magic Millions build-up before eventually deciding to stay closer to home.
“I was going to run him in a $100,000 Magic Millions race at Wyong next Thursday but I decided to stay home,” he said.
Doyle has named the Desleigh Forster-trained Easy Running as Biggles’ main threat.
“Easy Running ran a very good race to finish fourth behind Biggles last start and he’ll appreciate 1200 metres a lot better,” he said.
Forster is looking to continue her recent success after landing the biggest win of her seven-year training career with Adebisi in the Group Three George Moore Stakes at Doomben last week.
AAP TURF
