Newcastle preview: Coyle optimistic about Lady Talea's prospects

The Australian

04-08-2025

Jason Coyle walked away more than happy with Lady Talea's second place at Newcastle last start and expects her to be more than competitive again when she returns this weekend.
The three-year-old tracked the leader from her inside gate before peeling out on the turn and while she couldn't hold out the fast finishing Southern Heiress, she did put nearly three lengths on the rest of the field.
It was a big improvement from Lady Talea who had finished down the order in the her first two starts in the Listed Lonhro Plate at Randwick in February and Two-Year-Old Handicap on the Kensington.
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'I think we can put a line through her first two runs,' said Coyle.
'She probably shouldn't have gone to the Stakes on debut but she was in (work) at the right time and she was healthy so we gave her a go.
'It was a learning experience for her then she went out.
'On the Kenso first-up this time, she had trialled so well and I think Andrew (Adkins) may have got trigger happy and set her alight from the start.
'She had nothing in the tank when asked to quicken and just got lost.
'I thought it was a positive step forward from her last start. From a good draw it all worked out well.
'She found one much better on the day but she had the rest of the field well and truly covered.
The daughter of Anders returns to the Steel City in the Maiden Plate (900m) with Jess Taylor aboard.
'She has always shown that little bit of ability and I feel the family handle a wet surface,' Coyle said.
'I think the more times we can get her to the races and things go right, the better she will be.'
Coyle was also thrilled by the debut run of Smart Cry at Hawkesbury on June 26 despite beating just one home behind Efharisto.
After settling last, the daughter of Vino Rossa made up ground late in the 1000m event.
'She was super impressive. I really thought she was outstanding,' he said.
'I genuinely feel she is a seven furlong (1400m) to mile horse and her pedigree says even further.
'At this stage she is racing like a sprinter. I think 1200m would have been perfect the way she closed off.'
The four-year-old gets her chance over the 1200m where she contests the Midway 4YO&Up Maiden Handicap where she has drawn out in gate 11.
'Being a heavy track, it may be okay sitting a touch wide at Newcastle and sliding home,' he said.
'If we go ahead, she is definitely going to improve of her first run.'
Coyle expects stable stalwart Chateaux Park to run a much improved race second-up in the Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).
The nine-year-old dwelt at the start and came out two lengths behind the field when last to Hooligan Tommy at Gosford two weeks ago.
'Mitchell (Bell) got off and said they couldn't have run the race any worse for him with a horse taking off mid-race,' said Coyle.
'Being first-up, trying to sustain a four furlong gallop had his cooked. He was done.
'It was a shame because he had trialled nicely leading into it.
'He probably would have finished closer if it was just a normal run mile.
'It will be a heavy track which he handles and he should improve out of sight second-up.'
Coyle also expects Bluff 'N' Bluster and Catch The Glory to run well at Rosehill.
'I'm not going to the races bullish but I'm confident they are all in suitable races and will run well,' he said.