Co-trainer David Hayes declared Redkirk Warrior's win in Saturday's Group II Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington as better than his Newmarket Handicap victory.
Redkirk Warrior ($4) sprinted to the lead shortly after passing the 400m mark and was not hard pressed to score by 2 1/2-lengths over Scales Of Justice ($4.80) with Land Of Plenty ($41 - $20) coming from last at halfway to run third, beaten 3 1/4-lengths.
Redkirk Warrior was the first horse in 150 years to win the Newmarket Handicap first-up and was racing for the first time since finishing fifth behind Tivaci in the Group I All Aged Stakes at Randwick in April.
Hayes said Redkirk Warrior was showing Lindsay Park Racing the right signs going into the race.
"We felt he was going better into this race than he was before the Newmarket and I reckon that was an improved effort on the Newmarket," Hayes, who trains Redkirk Warrior in partnership with son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, said.
"When you factor in the weight he carried today (57kg) I think his effort to win as convincingly as that is some effort - I've been seeing the raw ability for 12 months now.
"When we get this sprinting out of the way with him, we'll turn him into a middle distance horse."
Hayes said next month's The Everest is the aim for the seven-year-old import. Redkirk Warrior firmed from $15 into $8 for The Everest after his Flemington win on Saturday.
"If he gets the right conditions in Sydney it will take a real good one to beat him," Hayes said.
"It never rains but it pours and Vega Magic and this horse are the two best sprinters I've had for some time, they'd be good in any era.
"I'd probably be leaning towards this fellow over Vega simply because he has some Sydney form but Vega is an incredible horse.
"There's not much between - they're both top shelf."
Bayliss rode Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap and said the horse was always travelling well for him today.
"He's a gentleman to ride and he relaxed better in the run today," Bayliss said.
"He was in a lovely rhythm and it was just a question of me letting him go at the right time. He did it all on his own and he's a force to be reckoned with in whatever race he contests."
EXPLOSIVE! Redkirk Warrior jumps out of the ground at the 200m, charging away to a BIG win in the Bobbie Lewis. He loves @FlemingtonVRC! pic.twitter.com/HY9TiUZ2QF
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 16, 2017
