Sydney not for Warrior

TEAM Hayes has already scrapped plans to take their star sprinter, dual Newmarket Handicap winner Redkirk Warrior, to Sydney to contest the TJ Smith Stakes ( 1200m) next month.

Co- trainer Ben Hayes also said a decision on whether Red- kirk Warrior would head overseas would be made today but he indicated they were looking at that option favourably.

“Redkirk Warrior isn’t going to Sydney. We’ve tried it before and it’s not his cup of tea as he just didn’t settle in,” Hayes said. “We’ll talk to his owners and they are keen to see him compete overseas.”

Hayes said Royal Ascot was the chief aim and the Diamond Jubilee Stakes ( 1200m) on June 23 would the main target.

The team is considering taking Redkirk Warrior via Hong Kong where he would run in the Chairman’s Sprint on April 29 or go straight to England.

If Redkirk Warrior ran in both England and Hong Kong he would be returning to the two places he raced when he was a middle distance galloper.

Hayes said it had been a remarkable transformation from Redkirk Warrior who was retired in Hong Kong due to issues with his feet.

When he got to Australia, Redkirk Warrior also had minor surgery for a wind problem.

In nine starts for the David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig team he has won four races, including two Newmarket Handicaps and a Lightning Stakes.

The Hayeses said it was a strong chance Redkirk Warrior ran on the slower section of the straight down the outside rail yet was still too good.

“Our other horses in the race all went out there and got well beaten,” Ben Hayes said.

He praised a great ride from Michael Walker, who managed to win the Australian Cup on Harlem.

Hayes said Harlem’s next start could be in the $ 700,000 Ranvet Stakes ( 2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.