Redkirk Warrior Ready For Mile

By Brad Gray
 
Redkirk Warrior broke a 100-year hoodoo in the Newmarket Handicap by winning the Flemington sprint first-up and now lines up an intriguing runner in The Star Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

David Hayes, who trains in partnership with Tom Dabernig and his son Ben Hayes, boasted after the Newmarket that Redkirk Warrior is the best horse in their stable at the moment.


Ben Hayes, David Hayes and Tom Dabernig

“He is a horse that won his first start in England over 2000m which is unusual to then win a Newmarket,” said Hayes at Tuesday’s barrier draw.

After winning again in England at his second outing, he found himself in Hong Kong where after a promising start succumbed to feet issues. He then found a home with Lindsay Park and hasn’t looked back.

“I think he a weight for age horse with a handicapper’s weight and he has been set for this race,” said Hayes.

“You’ve got to remember, he won a Sandown Group Three at his second run (after a long break). I’m pretty confident he’ll be ready for the mile, he just might need a clever ride from 15.”

The stable, who have enjoyed a stellar two-year-old season in Melbourne, will also be represented by another Hong Kong cast off in the enigmatic Dibayani.

“He doesn’t win but keeps running placings. He’ll love looking up and not seeing Winx.”
 
 Check out the fields for Day 1 of The Championships here