Written by Paul Vettise
Nathan Doyle is ensuring the support of such an industry heavyweight as Matthew Sandblom is no one-way street by successfully fulfilling his side of the bargain.
Doyle is repaying the faith shown in him by Sandblom, who operates Kingstar Farm and has a stake in Newgate, and has sent out three winners this month for the major breeder and owner with the imminent prospect of adding to the tally.
Café Royal (Snitzel) started the ball rolling when she successfully resumed at Newcastle where Strawb (Fastnet Rock) subsequently followed suit before Royal Banquet (Snitzel) won at Scone.
Watch: Cafe Royal win on June 6
The former is raced by Sandblom and Newgate while Strawb comes under Sandblom’s Hollymount Stud ownership and Royal Banquet his Horse Ventures operation.
“I’ve had 11 runners for Matthew and eight winners. So far so good, but you don’t always get runs like that so we’re making the most of it,” Doyle said.
“Matthew is in a lot of the China Horse Club horses and when I was foreman with the Snowdens they had a lot of their horses and that’s how I got to know Matthew and Henry from Newgate.
“I was with the Snowdens for three years and then with Mark Newnham for two. I’ve been out on my own for 18 months and have been lucky to have a great group of supporters.
“I’ve been out on my own for 18 months and have been lucky to have a great group of supporters. “ – Nathan Doyle
“Café Royal was the first horse I had from Matthew. I’ve also got a couple for Newhaven Park and Seymour Bloodstock so it’s been great and appreciate all their support.”
Café Royal has won four of her five starts and will bid to add to that record when she runs in Saturday’s Alabama Express @ Yulong H. at Rosehill.
Cafe Royal as a yearling
“She’s better on top of the ground so hopefully we get a few drying days and it gets back to a soft six or seven. She’s talented and got something you can’t instil into horses, the will to win,” Doyle said. “She just grits her teeth and doesn’t like getting beaten.”
Café Royal, who failed to meet her $500,000 when offered by Newgate at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, is from the family of champion stallion Redoute’s Choice.
Sweet mare
Stablemate Strawb is another well-related mare and is out of a half-sister to the eight-time Group 1 winner More Joyous (More Than Ready {USA}).
Strawb has won three of her five appearances and most recently came from well back in the running to score with ease.
Watch: Strawb win on June 20
“She is a very talented mare and does things with ease, she’s one that I’m probably one that excites me most. She’s only had the three starts for us and has been missing the start or rearing up, but she’s getting better all the time,” Doyle said.
“She’s such a big mare that she struggles to fit in the gates. She doesn’t like people hanging off her in the gates and is best off being left alone.
“Other than that she is perfect, an absolute darling most of the time. It’s only in the gates that she can get on edge.”
Smart purchase
Strawb was purchased by Sandblom for $80,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was offered by Strawberry Hill Stud.
“She didn’t get in foal and Matthew sent her to us to see if we could get a win or two on the page and enhance her value. From day dot she showed she was very talented,” Doyle said.
Royal Banquet as a yearling
Royal Banquet was successful in his first appearance from Doyle’s stable and was a $130,000 Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase out of Kia Ora Stud’s draft.
He is from the family of the G1 CF Orr S. winner Alabama Express and the former Hong Kong Horse of the Year Designs On Rome (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
“He’ll go through his grades. He’s still pretty raw and needs to strengthen up a bit and there’s a lot of genuine improvement to come,” Doyle said.
