Newcastle preview: Trainer Nathan Doyle’s promising mare Nightcapped to give her fans reason to celebrate

She may not be the biggest horse in training but the Nathan Doyle-trained Nightcapped has plenty of tenacity and is ready to stand tall when she resumes at Newcastle.

Nightcapped can kick off her campaign on a winning note on he home track. Picture: Bradley Photos

She isn’t the biggest horse around but Nightcapped has plenty of fight according to trainer Nathan Doyle and can kick off her campaign on a winning note on her home track.

The daughter of Xtravagant debuted with a close third in May last year before a lengthy spell and in four starts of her second campaign, she followed a second behind Opal Fields at Newcastle with a third-up win from her stablemate Ace’s In Bloom at the same course in February.

“She isn’t an overly big filly and a late maturing type so we have just taken out time with her,” Doyle said.

“She hasn’t really grown much during her spell but she is strong enough and she is big enough if she is good enough.

“She has that will to want to be a racehorse so that’s half the battle.

“I think we should put a line through her last run at Hawkesbury when she had probably come to the end of her preparation.

“Overall, I was quite happy with what she did last time in being her first real preparation.

“If she can improve off that, she is going to win plenty more races.”

Trainer Nathan Doyle. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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The newly turned four-year-old has pleased Doyle with her two barrier trial efforts including a win in her heat at Scone on July 17, and has found herself in an ideal race in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1200m).

“This is a nice race for her. It’s a good starting back,” Doyle said.

“She has trialled nicely this time in and she looks very well within herself.

“I expect she will probably roll forward to make her own luck and hopefully she can get across without having to do too much work. Fingers crossed it all works out.

“Hopefully this is her best preparation.”

The aforementioned Ace’s In Bloom was on debut when beaten a half-length by Nightcapped over 1200m after leading before fading to eighth behind Pipistrelle over 1300m at Newcastle and going to the paddock.

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The mare has been terrific winning both her trials on the Beaumont and at Scone in preparation for her return in the Midway 4YO and Up Maiden Handicap (1200m).

“She is a very talented filly who has always shown us plenty at home,” Doyle said.

“She was very raw in that first preparation and even in her trials, we rode her with a bit of cover and she would drop the bridle at the 600m. She just had no idea what it was all about.

“In her two trials back this preparation, we have ridden her with cover again on purpose to teach her something and she has attacked the line strongly.

“She looks like she has comeback the fully furnished article. She is a lot bigger and stronger than she was last preparation.”

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Although she is a daughter of Victoria Derby winner Ace High, Doyle said Ace’s In Bloom was showing no indication of being a stayer, with 1400m to a mile likely to be her maximum range.

“If she dours off during the preparation, that’s when you step her up a touch further but for now, the 1200m looks ideal for her,” he said.

In the same race, Doyle also saddles up Classic Poetry who is racing well with two seconds from three starts this campaign.

“She isn’t in the same class as Ace’s In Bloom but she is very consistent,” he said.

“From a soft gate, she will roll forward and make her own luck.

“We will put the blinkers back on her as well and I’m sure she is a genuine top three chance.”

Originally published as Newcastle preview: Trainer Nathan Doyle’s promising mare Nightcapped to give her fans reason to celebrate