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James Doyle says Nyaleti ready to roll for Rockfel test at Newmarket
By Racing TV
Last Updated: Tue 5 Dec 2023
Jockey James Doyle expects the drop in trip to suit Nyaleti in the Shadwell Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket on Friday.
Mark Johnston's filly has had a busy first season but, like so many from the yard, is thriving on her racing.
A Group Three winner at Ascot, she ran below form in the Prix Morny against the colts but bounced back to be narrowly beaten in the May Hill at Doncaster over a mile.
"Deirdre (Johnston) said she has been bouncing since her run at Doncaster," said Doyle.
"I travelled very well that day and got away with real slow fractions. In hindsight, I probably just pressed the button a little bit early.
"I put the race to bed, but the extra furlong did eke out her stamina a little bit, so coming back a furlong will definitely suit her.
"I was mindful of the headwind at Doncaster. I didn't want to ask her when everyone was on top of me. I thought it would be getting her racing before they got to me. She ran a tough race."
Ger Lyons supplemented Lightening Quick for the race, although he admits the daughter of Frankel has him perplexed on a morning.
"It's very hard to gauge where you are with Lightening Quick as her work has always been average - she only ever does the bare minimum at home," said Lyons.
"It's a little quirk of the family - her mother (Cheveley Park winner Lightening Pearl) was much the same, but it didn't stop her from winning a Group One.
"I saw something early on with Lightening Quick to suggest that she was good, but she's such an intelligent filly and maybe she's clever enough to know that there is no prize money on offer on the gallops at home.
"She was working just the same before her maiden win, when she produced a devastating run to shoot down the much more experienced Bye Bye Baby, a filly I know the Coolmore team likes. If she performs like that again or improves on Friday, the Rockfel will be the right spot for her.
"We were initially thinking about the Cheveley Park Stakes, but having won her maiden over seven furlongs we decided that, with next year's Classics in mind, a drop back to six furlongs would not be in her best interests, so we supplemented for this race instead."
Aidan O'Brien's Butterscotch is the other Irish-trained challenger.in this Group Two test.
The Roger Charlton-trained Gavota gets her chance in Pattern company after wining both her starts, the latest by six lengths at Lingfield.
"She's been pretty straightforward all round. She's won both her races pretty nicely," said Teddy Grimthorpe, racing manager for owner Khalid Abdullah. "Obviously this is a big step up for her and it looks a very competitive field."
Michael Bell's Roulette is a big price but her trainer feels she warrants her spot.
"She's in good form and we're hoping she'll run a very good race," said Bell.
"She won her maiden well. It's a big step up in class, but she certainly will not look out of place."
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