Gold Coast trainer Noel Doyle hopes his lucky rider Ric McMahon can bring him a change of fortune with comeback horse Le Val at Eagle Farm.
McMahon, who begins a suspension after Saturday’s racing, will replace Tim Bell aboard Le Val in Saturday’s Group Two Queensland Guineas (1400m).
Bell has switched to Sir Moments in the Guineas. Ironically McMahon was a replacement for Bell when Le Val won the Ken Russell Memorial at the Gold Coast last year.
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Disaster struck at his next start when Le Val broke his pelvis in the BRC Sires’ won by Zoustar, putting him out of action for nearly a year.
Queensland Guineas 2014 field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DOTHRAKI | Gerald Ryan | Nash Rawiller | 1 | 57kg | |
| 2 | SAFEGUARD | John O’Shea | Michael Rodd | 12 | 57kg | |
| 3 | HUCKLEBUCK | Phillip Stokes | Dom Tourneur | 15 | 57kg | |
| 4 | LIBERTY’S CHOICE | Gai Waterhouse | Blake Shinn | 11 | 57kg | |
| 5 | SIR MOMENTS | Steven O’dea | Timothy Bell | 5 | 57kg | |
| 6 | HAVANA | Paul Messara | Luke Nolen | 4 | 57kg | |
| 7 | INTO THE RED | Kelso Wood | Chris Munce | 19 | 57kg | |
| 8 | RYKER | Gai Waterhouse | Tim Clark | 17 | 57kg | |
| 9 | EASTERN PRINCE | Gillian Heinrich | 23 | 57kg | ||
| 10 | AGADIR | John O’Shea | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 57kg | |
| 11 | LE VAL | Noel J Doyle | Ric McMahon | 22 | 57kg | |
| 12 | BODEGA NEGRA | Bruce W Hill | 14 | 57kg | ||
| 13 | PALMERA LAD | Roslyn Pratt | Anthony Allen (a) | 16 | 57kg | |
| 14 | COSTA VIVA | Jason Bridgman | Jim Byrne | 20 | 55kg | |
| 15 | JAZZ SONG | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 6 | 55kg | |
| 16 | WORDPLAY | Anthony Cummings | Brenton Avdulla | 13 | 55kg | |
| 17 | SPLENDORA | Matthew Dunn | 10 | 55kg | ||
| 18 | QUEST FOR PEACE | Toby Edmonds | 21 | 55kg | ||
| 19e | LONGMA | Gai Waterhouse | Damian Browne | 7 | 57kg | |
| 20e | OLYMPIC ANTHEM (NZ) | Robert Heathcote | Michael Cahill | 2 | 57kg | |
| 21e | L’ENTRECOTE | Kelly Schweida | Glen Boss | 8 | 57kg | |
| 22e | NICKED AND COURT | Liam Birchley | Ryan Wiggins | 3 | 55kg | |
| 23e | WALKIN’ TALL | Gillian Heinrich | 18 | 57kg |
Doyle has nursed Le Val back to full fitness and has gained confidence from the gelding’s two runs this campaign.
“I thought he was terrific first-up when fifth in the Mick Dittman Plate up and then his third in the Queensland Day Handicap was as good a run as any in the race,” Doyle said.
The trainer said Le Val was looking for the 1400m of the Guineas which has been reduced in distance from the traditional 1600m.
“Tim (Bell) got off him when he drew barrier 22,” Doyle said.
“But it was the same story in the Ken Russell when we won he got off and Ric (McMahon) got on. Hopefully it will be the same.”
“I have had a bit of luck with Ric when he rides for me so lets keep our fingers crossed.”
Although Le Val is drawn wide, that is not usually too much of a concern with the 1400m start at Eagle Farm.
A win for Le Val would be a boost for Doyle who has sent his star two-year-old filly Aimee for a spell after her unplaced effort in the BRC Sires’ Produce.
Meanwhile, trainer Matt Dunn has booked Group One star Glen Boss to replace the injured Glen Colless on Splendora.
“We were lucky to get Glen (Boss) and she has been crying out for 1400 metres or longer,” he said.
