By Ray Hickson
Vega Magic has a reputation as a ‘destroyer’, Redkirk Warrior is chilled out while Tulip is a strong willed lass.
That’s co-trainer Ben Hayes’s description of the Lindsay Park team’s three runners in the $10 million TAB Everest following their gallops on Monday.
Tulip worked at home at Euroa and will travel to Sydney later in the week while Vega Magic and Redkirk Warrior had solo spins on the Randwick course proper.
“I was quite surprised how relaxed they both were,’’ Hayes said.
“Vega Magic has always been a very keen horse, he destroys the horses we work him with so he does most of his work by himself. He does too much if you have him with company.
“Redkirk is really relaxed, he walks around with his head on the floor everywhere and I think that’s a trait that makes him a good horse.
“Tulip is quite strong in her work, she’s always been a great worker at home and she’s had us excited for some time.’’
Because of Vega Magic’s ruthless approach to working with others there was no way Hayes was going to have the dual Group 1 winner work with his stablemate.
The Perth owned sprinter, who races in the slot owned by Max Whitby and Neil Werrett, is unbeaten in three starts since heading east and Hayes said the team knew very quickly he was something special.
“When we got him we knew we had a good horse after he did a piece of work with a good city class horse of ours and he beat him by about eight lengths,’’ he said.
“So we were confident going into the Goodwood he could win. We keep asking the question and he keeps producing.’’
Vega Magic will be ridden by Craig Williams in The Everest, the pair combined for a last start Group 1 win in the Memsie Stakes (1400m) back on September 2.
There’s no doubt Redkirk Warrior, The Star's Everest runner, has been at his most effective down the Flemington straight but Hayes said given reasonable conditions on Saturday he can silence a few knockers.
He ran 11th as a $6 chance in the Doncaster and fifth, beaten two lengths, in the All Aged Stakes in his only Sydney appearances to date.
The import, ridden by Regan Bayliss, resumed with a dominant win over the straight six on September 16.
Redkirk Warrior stretching out nicely in his gallop on the course proper. #TheEverest @tabcomau @AndrewBensley @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/zf8x5MGAUS
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 8, 2017
“The only reason he ran in the Bobbie Lewis was to get him the slot because people were a bit put off by his form in Sydney last time,’’ Hayes said.
“But that was on heavy 10 tracks and over a mile and 1400m.’’
The filly Tulip received a late call up to represent Coolmore in the Everest though Hayes said she more than deserves her place in the race and may well surprise a few.
“At home she’s a fantastic worker and when Coolmore was looking for a horse we suggested her,’’ he said.
“We worked her with one of our Group sprinters and she beat it so I think she will be very competitive. I think she’ll definitely be finishing up in the order.’’
Hayes said the measuring stick for Tulip in The Everest is She Will Reign.
His filly ran third in the Golden Slipper and while beaten five lengths he said a good case could be made that she should have finished a lot closer, evidenced by gaining third on protest.
Tim Clark rides Tulip on 51kg.