A home track advantage has boosted trainer Noel Doyle’s confidence in talented three-year-old Biggles making a successful comeback in the Group Three Gold Coast Guineas on Saturday.
Biggles hasn’t raced since finishing a close fifth to Punch On in the Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) at the Gold Coast in January but is pleasing Doyle as his campaign builds towards the Brisbane winter carnival.
Biggles showed he was one of Queensland’s better three-year-old’s when he won the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Eagle Farm in December after being awarded the race on protest over the Desleigh Forster-trained Easy Running.
Doyle is aiming Biggles towards next month’s Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m) at Eagle Farm and isn’t running scared of his interstate rivals in Saturday’s 1200m race despite drawing barrier 14.
“I think the interstate horses should be more worried about him on his home track but you’ve always got to be wary of the interstate horses,” Doyle said.
“He’s coming along well since I gave him a barrier trial at Deagon last week and 1200 metres first-up is ideal for him.
“He wasn’t beaten far in the Magic Millions Guineas when he drew the car park and never got on the track.”
Doyle believes Biggles isn’t mature enough for this year’s Group One Stradbroke Handicap and is considering sending him to Scone for the $500,000 Inglis Three-year-old Guineas (1400m) on May 19.
“He’s one of the better horses I’ve trained but this year’s Stradbroke is probably a little too soon for him,” Doyle said.
“He’ll make a nice Stradbroke horse next year.
“The Inglis Guineas is worth a lot of money and I’m considering sending him down for it.
“If I don’t he’ll run in the Fred Best Classic at Doomben next start.”
Tim Bell has the mount on Biggles and will have extra incentive to win following his sacking on Wednesday as Patinack Farm’s stable rider in Queensland.
Doyle is also hopeful stablemate Celtic Dancer can pull off a Gold Coast victory in the Listed Prime Minister’s Cup (1300m).
Celtic Dancer, who has drawn ideally in gate two, has shown glimpses of his best form at his last two starts finishing fourth and then third in class six company at Eagle Farm.
“He went off for a while but his last two runs have been very good,” Doyle said.
“It may be a coincidence but I put winkers on him for those runs and it may have jolted his memory.”
