Private Harry Takes Command of The Galaxy

Nathan Doyle's training career soared to new heights at Rosehill on Saturday when his brilliant colt, Private Harry (by Darley's Harry Angel), stormed to victory in the Gr1 The Galaxy. With just five career starts to his name, Private Harry's remarkable win was his fifth in succession, solidifying his status as one of Australian racing's hottest young talents. The triumph was a milestone moment on multiple fronts. It marked the first Group 1 win not only for Private Harry himself but also for his trainer Doyle, his breeder Rheinwood Pastoral, owners Kurrinda Bloodstock, and jockey Ash Morgan. Doyle, who purchased the colt for $115,000 from the Rheinwood draft at the 2023 Classic Yearling Sale in partnership with Kurrinda's Sean Driver, has finally achieved a defining moment in his training career. "That'll take a while to sink in,'' Doyle admitted, his voice thick with emotion. "This is what I've dreamed of, training racehorses and to be here and to win a Group 1. I still remember the picture I drew my uncle when I was eight years old to show him how many horses I was going to train, but little did I know they weren't going to be palomino and paint horses. I've had this in me from a young age, it's all I wanted to do, I've just always loved horses and moments like this, it's unbeatable." Rheinwood's Ray Willis shared in the joy, proudly stating, "He's our first Group 1 winner and I think he's a champion." Willis added, "It's a special moment as a breeder, a very special moment, to breed a Group 1 winner, especially a colt like him that could be anything. We've also got another colt out of the mare that will be going to the sales next year. The beautiful thing too is we sold Private Harry's [half] sister at Classic this year and retained 10% of her." Looking ahead, Doyle and his team are already eyeing the $20m The Everest in the spring, with Doyle confident that the additional 100m distance from The Galaxy's 1100m to The Everest's 1200m won't be an issue. "Definitely," he confirmed. "I think he was holding them again on the line so 1200m, if he's running that speed early, he's going to keep going." First, though, their focus is on the [G1] TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick in a few weeks, with plans to reassess from there. Since 2018, Private Harry has become the 104th Inglis graduate to claim a Group 1 win, and the third to capture The Galaxy in the last four years, following Mariamia in 2023 and Shelby Sixtysix in 2022.

Undefeated Group 1 hero Private Harry (pic: Mark Gatt)