Having experienced one of his lowest moments in racing this week, Nathan Doyle found himself at the other end of the spectrum at Rosehill when Hidden Motive scored a surprise win in the Group Two Roman Consul Stakes.
The young Newcastle trainer’s sprint star Private Harry was ruled out of The Everest on Monday due to a knee injury and while there was some relief in finding a reason for his two below par runs, it was teamed with the disappointment of losing his best horse for the rest of the spring.
“It’s bittersweet that way. We took him home, that’s the main thing. We will just give him time,” Doyle said of Private Harry.
“It’s a rollercoaster. Just hold on and ride it out.”
Doyle was at least able to enjoy the thrill of that ride on Saturday as Hidden Motive ($18) led throughout in the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) to cling to a half-neck victory over the luckless Beadman ($3.60), with Marhoona ($2 fav) another half-length away third.
Rated beautifully in front by Ash Morgan, the son of Capitalist out of 2017 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Secret Agenda is now likely to head to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
“You’ve got to dare to dream,” he said.
“He’s by a Group One winner out of a Group One winner.
“There were a few unlucky runners behind but they pay on the post and he is a Group Two winner now.
“He’s got good tactical speed and that will help him go a long way.”
Runner-up Beadman was badly strung up for room in the straight before shouldering clear late and just failing to reel in Hidden Motive.
Trainer Peter Snowden was delighted with the performance, if not the result, and said Beadman would also head to Melbourne for the Coolmore.
“No fault of Timmy’s (jockey Tim Clark’s). Tactically he has ridden the right race behind the favourite but we didn’t get the favours when we wanted,” Snowden said.
“With only a hundred metres to go he was two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner and he has run it down to a head.
“It was good to see him hit the line hard and through the line he was excellent. He is on track.”
Golden Slipper winner Marhoona raced slightly below her best after having the measure of the two colts first-up, jockey Tommy Berry wondering if she felt the hard track.
“A touch disappointing obviously,” Berry said.
“I felt the track might have been a bit firm for her. It might be just an excuse as well so we’ll see how she pulls up.
“She obviously met the winner four kilos better today and it has come out and beaten us by two lengths. She obviously wasn’t the same horse she was the other day.”
