Royal Ascot On the Cards for Lightning Stakes Hero Redkirk Warrior

Mark Smith - Saturday February 17

Newmarket Handicap hero Redkirk Warrior (GB) renewed his love affair with Flemington straight when he snapped the six-race winning streak of champion sprinter Redzel in Saturday's $750,000 Group I Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington.

Settled back near last under Regan Bayliss, Redkirk Warrior (GB) stormed down the outside fence to edge out Redzel (Snitzel) by a short-head with one and a quarter lengths back to Missrock (Fastnet Rock) in third. (photos Grant Courtney ). 


Due to defend his Newmarket Handicap title, Redkirk Warrior (GB) is a chance of heading back home for a visit to Royal Ascot in June with the Diamond Jubilee Stakes (1200m) on the final day a likely target.

''I am going to talk to (owner) Edmund Lee. After the Newmarket, he doesn't fire in Sydney and he loves the straight He's a real freak up the straight," Hayes said

Hayes said he was happy for Bayless who had suffered the wrath of the stable after a few sub-par rides.

"I thought he was riding out of sorts, I am one of Regan's biggest fans and have given him huge support, I just felt that in his riding he had lost his way a little bit," Hayes said.

"He missed the start on one of my horses and was up outside the leader and one of my golden rules is if you miss the start you join in late, not early.


"Anyone that rides for me knows I go off my tree if jockeys do that, I don't care if you get beaten running on if you miss the start.

"Regan knows that better than anyone and that just told me that he needed a break and a look at himself and a bit of a think.

"All sportsmen make mistakes at different times and he broke a team rule."

One of 5 stakes winner by the Group I Juddmonte Stakes winner Notnowcato (Inchinor) Redkirk Warrior (GB) is a half-brother to six winners out of the unraced Selkirk mare Flag a half-sister to the Listed stakes winner Armenian Dancer.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Coolmore Set Justify Fee for 2025
Coolmore have announced the US fee for Justify in 2025 with the undefeated Triple Crown winner priced at $US250,000 to head  their roster of 16 stallions at Ashford Stud in Kentucky.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.