Doyle throws Funshow into the deep end

With the carnival looming on the horizon, Nathan Doyle is hoping to make hay while the sun shines and test the progressive Funshow in Saturday company.

The son of Cosmic Force, who has been impressive winning his past two starts by a cumulative 6-1/2 lengths, will line up in a BenchMark 72 race over 1500m for three-and-four-year-olds at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The conditions of the race were an enticing factor given Saturday marks the start of the new racing season, which sees Funshow turn into a four-year-old on the traditional ‘horse’s birthday’.

“He seems to be trending the right way,” Doyle said.

There’s nowhere to hide now, he’s probably at that level.

“He’s got to step up and go to that 72 grade, but he’s in good order and 1500 metres, I think he’ll run out strongly.”

Having won at Newcastle over 1300m and Hawkesbury over 1400m at his past two starts, Doyle has no issue rising another 100m in trip for Saturday’s race, with $160,000 on offer a nice carrot to start the new season.

“He’s always shown us that he’d be a miler in time and he’s slowly getting there,” Doyle said.

“It’s definitely the right time to try them. Obviously, it’s carnival time very soon, so you probably try them while those 72s are on a Saturday for the good prize money.”

Doyle could have another two runners on Saturday at Rosehill with last-start winner Silvanito to contest another BenchMark 78 over 1400m.

“He finally drew a gate third-up and we were able to ride him a little closer,” Doyle said of the ex-Godolphin gelding.

“It’s the difference from being able to drag him back from bad gates and always hitting the line strongly but never getting the cash.

“He’s rock hard, race fit so the four weeks between runs won’t worry him.”

The pair could also be joined by Formal who is entered in the BenchMark 78 sprint over 1100m with a decision to be made if he goes to Doomben or runs at Rosehill.