The combination of breeding and innate ability has been instrumental in Better Late’s development into a more formidable racehorse. His trainer is of the opinion that the gelding is on the cusp of another victory at Rosehill, contesting the Midway Handicap (1300m) this Saturday.
Having been gelded prior to his last racing campaign, the now four-year-old achieved two wins from his six outings. However, it is during this current preparation that two barrier trial successes were followed by two second-place finishes, with a victory at benchmark 68 level at Newcastle on August 25 occurring in between.
“He’s by Maurice so he is only going to get better with a bit of time on his side,” Newcastle-based trainer Nathan Doyle commented.
“He has come back in good order and I can’t fault any of his runs this preparation and he’s got the hoof on the till once again.
“The track suits him being an on-speed runner. He’s pretty bombproof.”
A consistent performer, Better Late has seen his Racing and Sports ratings improve at each of his last three starts. His most recent performance at Rosehill over 1200m on September 12 was hampered when James McDonald, aboard Formal, managed to get the better of him late.
Encouragingly, McDonald is booked to ride Better Late this time around, commencing from barrier eight.
“You can take that as you will,” Doyle remarked with a smile.
“But we are very happy to have him aboard.
“Better Late does everything right and gets out of the gates and makes his own luck and I will be disappointed if he isn’t in the finish.”
Doyle also has Mercy Me entered in the final race, scheduled over 1100m. This mare is first-up following a lackluster conclusion to her winter campaign, finishing out of the placings in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes (1200m) in June.
“Her work was good on Tuesday,” Doyle shared.
“She does need to take the step up from three-year-old grade and takes on the older horses but she seems to be in he right frame.”
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