In the aftermath of Belmont’s early end on Saturday the winning effort of My Hidden Universe might have been easy to forget or slipped the mind of a few.
Not for trainer, John Doyle. He walked away from the meeting with a spring in his step and a smile on his face.
Both deserved and on results, well and truly justified.
A year off the scene was no impediment for My Hidden Universe and one warm up trial enough as the five-year-old gelding returned with a bang.
Ridden by his regular partner, Brandon Louis, My Hidden Universe won comfortably and after sweeping to the front at the top of the straight he had the race in his grasp and was never in serious jeopardy of going down, much to the delight of punters who sent him out as the rock-solid favourite.
The one length winning margin was emphatic and gave racegoers, if required, another timely reminder after his long race day absence that he is clearly a valuable commodity for Doyle, who pokes around with a small team of horses at his home base in North Dandalup.
My Hidden Universe is a winner for Doyle with Saturday’s success improving his record to four wins, all arriving this preparation, two seconds and three thirds from just the nine starts since his debut two years ago.
A home bred, My Hidden Universe is giving all the indications of being above average and as his rating continues on an upward trajectory, it won’t be long before he’s tested in better races against quality opposition.
Doyle said he knew My Hidden Universe, a son of Universal Ruler, was handy early on in proceedings.
“Probably at his very, very first start,” Doyle said on Tabradio.
“Troy Turner rode him; he missed the kick at Pinjarra and was out of the race basically.
“He got up off the ground and ran third.
“Troy came in and said, ‘you have a nice one here and look after him.’
“From then on he always showed above average ability.”
Doyle has heeded advice from revered trainer Bart Cummings who stated that patience is the cheapest thing in racing and the least used.
Following My Hidden Universe’s third finish behind Vivid Dream at his first official race start, Doyle opted to spell him immediately.
After a year away he packed in four starts, placing on each occasion, before commencing his winning spree and another extended break.
Swayed away from a Kalgoorlie campaign, Doyle said there's no concern with My Hidden Universe physically that's had him sparingly race.
“I wanted to take him to Kalgoorlie for the race round,” Doyle said.
“I got him up for that and he was ready to go, but everyone was telling me the tracks were too hard.
“I pulled the pin and didn’t go there.
“Then the whole stable got a viral infection.
“I put him back to work early this year and he’s been ticking along.
“There’s been no real issues with him.”
Although Doyle has stretched My Hidden Universe out to 1400m, he believes he’s at his best and most adept at short course distances.
“That’s his distance range now,” Doyle said.
“I believe a 1000 to 1200m, maybe 1300m at a stretch.
“He seems to be very comfortable around that 1000m, he’s got that sprint that he can drop them off around those races.”
Julio Santarelli