Talented colt Scissor Kick will head to the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 21 and the Group 1 Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 after he returned to racing with a win in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Scissor Kick finished over the top of Delectation in the 2015 Eskimo Prince Stakes. Photo by: Steve Hart
Scissor Kick jumped from the gates well and was the leader in the early stages of the Eskimo Prince Stakes before jockey Tye Angland restrained the Redoute’s Choice colt into fourth position, while Delectation took up the running.
Delectation looked as though he had the race won when he kicked away from his rivals at the 250 metre mark, but the Chris Waller-trained gelding cost himself as couple of lengths when he attempted to changed strides at the 150 metre mark and Scissor Kick was able to capitalize on his opponents mistake and record a strong win.
Trainer Paul Messara was brimming in praise for Scissor Kick after his Eskimo Prince Stakes and he told the media after the race that the three-year-old would likely be his number one seed leading into the Royal Randwick Guineas.
“I was always confident he would find the line,” Messara said.
“1200m was going to be as short as he wanted but he was always going to be strong through the line.
“There is no doubt he is the best horse I’ve had anything to do with.
“I’d be inclined to keep Scissor Kick here in Sydney, we know he goes well this direction and working at home Panzer Division does handle the Melbourne way if we decide to go there.
“Ideally I would like to keep them apart but it looks like they will have to clash next start.
“They’re totally different horses so it’s hard to pick one over the other and say one’s better or worse but Scissor Kick probably has a slightly better turn of foot.
Jockey Hugh Bowman confirmed after the race that Delectation shied at something at the 150 metre mark and he is adamant that the three-year-old would have won the race if not for the hiccup.
While Bowman was disappointed not to win the Eskimo Prince Stakes, he was still happy with the feel that he received from Delectation and is confident that the Shamardal gelding is in for a big autumn campaign.
“I’m a bit disappointed he hasn’t won because I felt I was in a commanding position when he took fright at nothing and it certainly cost him the win,” Bowman said.
“As disappointing as that is, he’s a serious horse and is only going to continue to improve.”
The Hobartville Stakes is set to feature a star-studded field; with the likes of Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win, Golden Rose Stakes winner Hallowed Crown, talented Godolphin colt Sweynesse, Panzer Division and Kiwi hope Turn Me Loose on track to contest the Group 2 event.
