Unbeaten colt Private Harry has taken every step in his stride so far, and trainer Nathan Doyle is ready to give him his first shot at Group 1 glory in The Galaxy at Rosehill.

Having won all four of his career starts, Private Harry is the early favourite to maintain his perfect record in Saturday’s 1100m handicap race.

Doyle, in pursuit of his first Group 1 victory, has had his sights set on The Galaxy for Private Harry since his impressive win in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate (1100m) at the Sunshine Coast back in January.

With a smooth lead-up to this weekend’s race, Private Harry has won two barrier trials—one at Rosehill and another at Newcastle—keeping him sharp and race-ready.

“He only had a short spell of 10 days,” Doyle said.

“He retained some residual fitness, so he’s coming into this race in a forward condition rather than needing the run.

“You can’t be underprepared—you have to be fit and ready.

“That said, a few other contenders will be first-up, including the second favourite (Briasa), which levels the playing field a bit.

“We’re extremely happy with how he’s shaping up.”

In the Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate, Private Harry dominated the race, beating Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot by 2-1/2 lengths, with Arabian Summer finishing third. The win was a significant moment for Doyle in the inaugural running of the $3 million event.

“It was an unforgettable feeling, one you wish you could hold onto forever,” Doyle said.

“What’s even better is that the form from that race has held up well, which is a great sign.

“Even back to his Hawkesbury run—he won by seven lengths, and the runner-up has since placed second in a Group 2.”

After a solid gallop on Saturday morning, Doyle confirmed that Private Harry would have one more strong piece of work on Tuesday to finalize preparations for The Galaxy.

The trainer is confident this race is the ideal Group 1 debut for his rising star.

“You never truly know how they’ll handle the step up until they take it,” Doyle said.

“You don’t see their full speed in training, but he’s more mature now, taking everything in his stride.

“He’s still sharp in his work, but he’s also learning to relax early in his gallops, which is exactly what you want to see.

“He’s looked strong in both trials, and with a light weight on his back, this looks like the right race for him. He’s going into it in fantastic order.”

The Galaxy is one of five Group 1 events on Rosehill’s Saturday card, alongside the Golden Slipper, George Ryder Stakes, Ranvet Stakes, and