Red alert: Warrior secures shot at Everest

After weeks of deliberation, The Star told The Daily Telegraph on Thursday night they were happy to go with Hall of Fame trainer David Hayes’s recommendation to race to Redkirk Warrior in The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 14.

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This brings the number of Everest starters to nine, while Redkirk Warrior’s stablemate, Vega Magic, is expected to included in the field as early as Friday. The final field is restricted to 12 runners.

Redkirk Warrior became the first horse in more than a century to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap first-up earlier this year and his dynamic return to racing with a runaway Group 1 Bobbie Lewis Quality win convinced The Star of the sprinter’s Everest credentials.

“When we purchased a slot for The Everest, we decided to partner with David (Hayes) and his stable at Lindsay Park to maximise our chances of success,” said Michael Hodgson, General Manager of Business Development and Partnerships at The Star Entertainment Group.

“It was a deliberately different approach. Rather than settle on a horse from the outset and risk loss of form or injury to our runner in the lead-up to the race, we have worked with David over time and been guided by him on the most suitable selection from his stable to contest the event.

“We have valued David’s ongoing dialogue on the options available and now that we have reached a decision he remains unswerving in his opinion that Redkirk Warrior is a very strong contender.”

Hayes, the Hall of Famer who trains in partnership with his son, Ben, and Tom Dabernig, said Redkirk Warrior has “extraordinary ability” which the sprinter will showcase in The Everest.

“Redkirk Warrior has been targeted at The Everest since winning the Newmarket in March,’’ Hayes said. “He was dominant when he won the Bobbie Lewis and I expect him to be at his peak in The Everest. He will be the horse that everyone has to beat.”

Hodgson said The Star Entertainment Group is “committed to delivering thrilling experiences to its guests, so The Everest has a wonderful alignment for us”.

“It also provides an opportunity to bring VIP guests from around the world to Australia to participate in this unique event,’’ Hodgson said. “There is no doubt The Everest is the new summit of thoroughbred racing and will be a star attraction for the Sydney Spring Carnival. This race will become one of the truly iconic events on the Australian sporting calendar and given our strong partnership with the ATC, we’re excited to be involved in year one.”

It is understood slot holders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett are in negotiations to lock in Vega Magic as their Everest runner. The deal should be announced on Friday.

Vega Magic ($ 7) and Redkirk Warrior ($ 9) are among the early favourites behind Chautauqua ($ 5) for The Everest.

She Will Reign eyes spot in record books

THE Everest hopeful She Will Reign is striving to become only the second Golden Slipper winner to resume as a three-year-old and win a Group 1 at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

Racing’s Cinderella filly She Will Reign makes her new season comeback in the $ 500,000 Moir Stakes (1000m).

If She Will Reign can beat the older sprinters and claim the feature sprint, she will join Tontonan as the only Golden Slipper winners to win a Group 1 first-up as a three-year-old.

Tontonan won the 1973 Golden Slipper but did not make his three-year-old debut until the following autumn, when he resumed to win the Oakleigh Plate.

Legendary sprinters Vain (1969) and Manikato (1978) both beat older horses first-up in the Freeway Stakes as three-year-olds but the sprint was a Group 2 race in those days.

She Will Reign’s trainer, Gary Portelli, isn’t bothered that the weight of racing history seems stacked against his filly on Friday night.

“I’m over the moon with her,’’ Portelli said. “She has travelled down to Melbourne and settled in so well. This is her first time racing the Melbourne way and you can never be 100 per cent confident how they will handle it but I don’t think it will be a problem for her.

“We have done all we can to make sure she is right for this race.

“It has always been our plan to run her here to ensure she is ready for The ­Everest — I’m very comfortable with her preparation.’’

Portelli is using the Moir to prepare She Will Reign for the world’s richest race on turf, the $ 10 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on October 14.

“There will be no time to think about it (tactics) in the Moir because they will be flat out from the time the gates open,’’ Portelli said.

“The filly will come into eight and I think that is better than if she drew one. You can get into all sorts at the Valley if you are on the fence and stuck behind horses. We will probably get back off the pace somewhere and then launch late with the lightweight.’’

The sprinter rated She Will Reign’s biggest Moir threat, Russian Revolution, which needs to win to ­secure a slot for The Everest.

There are two slots open to complete The Everest field and it is understood one of those slot-holders is keen to lock in Russian Revolution if he runs well on Friday night. Russian Revolution resumed with a dominant win in the McEwen Stakes and he is favourite to score a second career Group 1 win and gain an ­Everest start.

“The barrier (14) is not ideal but there is not much we can do about it,’’ trainer Peter Snowden said. “There is speed drawn around him so I’m hoping we can get onto the right back and that will help bring us into the race. He was very strong late the other day and that is him — he is a very game, determined sprinter.’’