Daily News Wrap

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Laing’s Guineas confidence growing

Robbie Laing is delighted with the condition of Stars Of Carrum (Fiorente {Ire}) ahead of the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday.

His charge was unplaced last time out in the G3 CS Hayes S., after an interrupted run.

"His sectionals in the CS Hayes were outstanding even though the handbrake was on," Laing said. "He went to the line under a tight hold.”

Ben Melham, who won on the colt at Moonee Valley before finishing second in the G1 Victoria Derby, was reunited with Stars Of Carrum in the CS Hayes.

"He got off him the other day and his first comment, which is always interesting in anything you do in life, was 'this will win the Guineas'," Laing said.

Stars Of Carrum

History beckons sprinter

A slice of Australian racing history awaits Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) if he can win a third G1 Newmarket H.

He has been given 58.5kg, up a kilo on last year, for the $1.25 million race, putting him alongside another Group 1 star, Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for the March 9 feature.

Lindsay Park principal David Hayes confirmed on Tuesday that given The All-Star Mile was off the table after a luckless run in the G1 Futurity S. with the focus now firmly on the Newmarket.

"We were hoping for the wildcard, but he got blocked and was denied his chance in the Futurity so we'll probably go for history and try for a third Newmarket win," Hayes said.

"It was disappointing last week as he got pole-axed and he would have been right in the finish if he got his run, but we'll get over it if he can win a third."

Redkirk Warrior

Buyers circling Derby favourite

Overseas interest in this Saturday’s G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby favourite Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) has been strong.

The dual Group 2 winner of the Auckland and Avondale Guineas heads the Classic market at NZ$3.

“There has been interest from Hong Kong and as a gelding the offers are becoming quite tempting, but we have put everything on hold until after Saturday,” Raffles Farm Manager Bruce Sherwin said.

“He’s a pretty exciting racehorse. He’s still on his first racing preparation, so he has achieved a lot and anything on Saturday is going to be a bonus.”

Raffles purchased Surely Sacred, whose half-sister Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) is the dam of the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), for NZ$160,000 out of Waikato Stud’s draft at Karaka.

Surely Sacred

Te Akau jockeys confirmed

Te Akau has confirmed its riding engagements for Saturday’s G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby.

Stable jockey Opie Bosson will partner Prise De Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) with the Singapore-based Australian Glenn Boss to take the mount on In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock).

The former hit the line strongly for sixth last time out in the G2 Avondale Guineas, in which In A Twinkling finished a close second after covering extra ground.

In a nice touch, Te Akau’s 2017 Derby hero Gingernuts (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) will lead the Classic field out at Ellerslie.

Opie Bosson will partner Prise De Fer

Sydney Cup tilt still on

Last season’s G1 Auckland Cup winner Ladies First (NZ) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) will continue on a path toward the G1 Sydney Cup, despite a last-start failure.

The mare was never a factor in the G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic at Otaki last Saturday.

“It was a pass mark (the run),” trainer Allan Sharrock said. “We are happy the way we are tracking. She looks really well.

Ladies First will have one further start in New Zealand, in the Gr1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. before heading across the Tasman to contest the G2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick.

“She’ll now go to the 2000 metre race at Ellerslie at weight-for-age, through that into the Chairman’s and then a week later the Sydney Cup,” Sharrock said.

Ladies First

Group 1 winner on move

Group 1 winner Scales Of Justice (Not A Single Doubt) is to continue his career from the Warrnambool stable of Jarrod McLean, still under the guidance of Lindsey Smith.

The 6-year-old won the Railway S. in 2016 for trainer Lindsey Smith, but has been troubled by injuries and hasn’t been successsful since he landed the G3 Strickland S. in July, 2017.