Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes doesn’t consider a wide barrier any big problem for Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.
Redkirk Warrior, above, has drawn a wide barrier in the Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Redkirk Warrior drew barrier fifteen in the original draw in the twenty horse plus three emergencies final field but could come in two spots with two of the emergencies drawn inside the six year old.
Hayes said that he wasn’t that concerned about the wide draw and that Redkirk Warrior needs plenty of galloping room and he is sure to get that now.
“Redkirk Warrior, he’s a big-action horse, I’d want him to have some galloping room,” Hayes said.
“At first I was a bit disappointed, but I don’t think it’ll be a big problem.”
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig produced Redkirk Warrior first up to win the Group 1 $1.25m Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington on March 11 and the step straight up to the 1600m of the Doncaster Mile won’t be a problem either.
“I think he’ll be better at a mile than he was at 1200m,” David Hayes said.
“In England in the first start in his life, he won over 2000m. So I don’t think a mile with 53kg will be too much trouble.
“In my opinion, he’s a genuine weight-for-age horse with a handicapper’s weight, and I normally like that.”
Regan Bayliss scored his first Group 1 win on Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap and gets the ride again on the much travelled galloper.
Redkirk Warrior began his racing career in England before heading to Hong Kong where he won once from five starts before being retired because of chronic feet problems.
The Lindsay Park Team took over the training of the gelding and were able to get him back on the track through some clever work from the Lindsay Park farrier.
“He didn’t race for year and they virtually retired him Hong Kong,” Hayes said.
“He was sent to us and my farrier did a great job with him and he is better now and I am very lucky to have him.”
In early betting for the Doncaster Mile Redkirk Warrior is marked at $11 with Ladbrokes.com.au who have the Kris Lees trained Le Romain as the $6 favourite.
Le Romain has drawn barrier eight with Hugh Bowman replacing Glyn Schofield who aboard the four year at his last two starts for a win in the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4 followed by a second to Winx in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.
Doncaster Mile top weight Hauraki and the Chris Waller trained McCreery share the second line of betting at $8.50 ahead of the in-form Happy Clapper at $10.
