Talented gelding a Force to be reckoned with at Newcastle

Neil EvansAugust 24, 2026 — 4:35pmA lightly raced home-track four-year-old is set to return for only her second campaign with a bang at Tuesday’s Newcastle meeting on the Beaumont track.Talented gelding Force March has not raced since an impressive and fast-finishing second at Wyong in early April. Finishing only a long neck that day behind rival Newcastle mare Turning Circle, which went on to claim a benchmark 64 handicap, Force March was immediately spelled.Trainer Nathan Doyle has had a strong August with six winners.Getty ImagesConnections then set about charting a late winter and spring preparation for this powerful son of Grunt.A strong home trial three weeks ago has him ready to return for just his fourth start in a competitive maiden handicap over 1150m for the older gallopers.Trained by Andrew MacDonald, whose wins have been few and far between since summer, Force March drew an inside barrier, and opened a $4 favourite, narrowly ahead of four-year-old St Johann ($4.40), which makes its debut for the Hawkes stable at Rosehill, and promising five-year-old Wan Lost ($5), also first up for the leading Kris Lees stable.The track was rated a good 4 in the days leading up to Tuesday’s meeting, but forecast rain on the day may push it back into the soft range.Either way, it’s very much a “peak” meeting in the campaign for many runners, especially those metropolitan-based gallopers coming through seemingly stronger form lines.It’s also a golden chance for local trainer Nathan Doyle to continue what has been a terrific start to the new season. The Doyle yard already has six winners from 21 runners in August, including a BM72 double at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.Doyle has a big hand in a class 1 handicap over 1150m, with last-start third-up winner Lady Of The Castle ($5.50) and promising mare Perfect Force ($7), second up, both strong value chances.But his biggest statement could well come in the closing race, a provincial BM68 handicap over 1200m, with the progressive Better Late.A tough four-year-old son of gun sire Maurice, Better Late only missed by a half-length when resuming in a BM64 at Gosford 19 days ago. Fitter now, he stays over the distance, and gets big weight relief tackling a deeper graded race.Supplied by Racing NSW.From our partners