HAYES’ BIG DAY AT FLEMINGTON
REGAN Bayliss has landed an early 21st birthday present guiding Redkirk Warrior to victory in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.
Having already booked a party for last night, Bayliss has extra reason to celebrate after landing a second Newmarket Handicap.
Bayliss, who turns 21 on Tuesday, has a new rule introduced in recent weeks to thank for allowing him to ride Redkirk Warrior yesterday.
He was suspended for 25 meetings last week in the Australian Guineas, but the nineday deferment of suspension allowed him to ride.
Bayliss has now ridden Redkirk Warrior to three Group 1 wins with the imported galloper becoming the first horse to win successive Newmarket Handicaps with a Lightning Stakes (1000m) sandwiched in between.
Sent off a $7 chance, Redkirk Warrior did all the bullocking work on the grandstand side of the Flemington straight course to defeat Brave Smash ($9) by a shorthead on the flat side.
The $6.50 favourite Merchant Navy was a further short neck away third.
Redkirk Warrior was the first horse in 100 years to win the Newmarket first-up when successful last year and the first since Razor Sharp in 1982-83 to win in successive years.
Bayliss said he’s grateful to have found Redkirk Warrior so early in his career.
“His name suits his traits,” Bayliss said. “He’s a real warrior and I’m very grateful to be a part of his career.”
David Hayes has been associated with many great sprinters over his long career at Lindsay Park, going back to when he was an assistant with his father Colin.
Now training in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, Hayes suggested Redkirk Warrior may be the best straight-course sprinter the stable has produced.
“We had Special, Grandiose, Planet Ruler, Isca, Rory’s Jester, all that crew,” Hayes said. “Dad had a few of them but in my era at Lindsay Park and all the sprinters, I think he mixes it pretty well with all of them.”
Hayes said he would let the dust settle before deciding on the next chapter for Redkirk Warrior.
He’s all but ruled out a trip to Sydney preferring a possible return to Hong Kong in May.