Trainer Nathan Doyle is content to give promising colt Hidden Motive a soft launch for his spring campaign at Canterbury today to assess when he should step up to stakes level.

Hidden Motive won two of his five starts as a two-year-old, his final two runs for the season, and Doyle said there was no reason to rush him in against the three-year-old top liners.

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle is off to Hawkesbury on Thursday. Credit: Getty

So he kicks off in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1100m) with high hopes he can notch a first-up win.

“We felt he probably needed his first-up run,” he said. “When you take on older horses it’ll tell you whether or not you’re able to step up to stakes class, which I’m sure he can.”

The three-year-old, who carries the same colours as star stablemate P

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