By Glenn Davis
Emerging young trainer Nathan Doyle didn’t have to think too long before deciding to aim Rush Hour for the inaugural running of The Debut at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Doyle had 300,000 reasons to set Rush Hour on the path to what will easily be his biggest pay day if successful in the 900 metre feature for first starters.
The $500,000 The Debut Plate is run over 900 metres with $300,000 prize money to the winning connections.
With Melbourne favourite Steel City looking doubtful to gain a start from third emergency, Doyle’s confidence is growing each hour ahead of the big dance.
The 34-year-old Doyle is in his fourth year of training after a breakthrough first season in 2019-20 when he trained 32 winners with a 22 per cent strike rate at Scone.
He quickly caught the attention of the Newcastle Jockey Club which offered him boxes at Broadmeadow and he made the move there.
He currently is enjoying another great season with a 16.6 per cent winning strike rate with 27 wins from 163 starters.
Doyle finished the previous season with an 18.1 per cent strike with 57 wins from 315 starters.
Doyle now has 40 horses in work.
Rush Hour qualified for The Debut after winning a Rosehill barrier trial last month, which was part of the strict qualifying conditions for the race.
The Russian Revolution colt is a $7.50 third favourite for The Debut behind the Team Snowden-trained favourite, Getty, at $3.60.
“He’s a nice horse and has drawn perfectly in three,” Doyle said.
“You need to draw well in a 900 metre race and he travelled up well from Newcastle.
“He’s a genuine chance and he worked brilliantly on Tuesday morning at the Gold Coast.”
Doyle cut his teeth in racing learning from Sydney co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden as well as Mark Newnham.