Punters let out a collective groan when they let the straight track wonder Redkirk Warrior (GB) go off at 6/1 in Saturday's $1,250,000 Group 1 Lexus Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
And they had a good look at him as well with Regan Bayless scaping the paint off on the outside fence to nose out Brave Smash (JPN) looked to be putting in a winning charge on the other side of the track. Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Merchant Navy was a short-neck back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer) .
The defending champion has won three of his four starts at the track and was coming off a defeat of Redzel in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes over 1000 metres at the same track.
Unfortunately, Bayless copped an eight meeting suspension and a $5,000 fine for overuse of the whip but he could not hide his delight after pulling up.
"I'm just so blessed, I'm 20 years of age and I've found a horse like this so early in my career," Bayless said.
"This is what you dream about.
"He keeps defying history this horse, he was the first horse to win a Newmarket first-up in a hundred years and today he's won consecutive Newmarkets.
"We rolled the dice and went to the outside and he just travelled beautifully in the run.
"He was there to be beaten but good horses don't give in and he's one of them."
"We'll see how he pulls up, he's invited to Royal Ascot, we might go there.
"But he loves Lindsay Park so much, I half don't want to travel him either.
"We'll just sleep on it and make a few decisions later.
"I think he's the best straight horse I've had.
"To win with top weight in a Newmarket, he's a wonderful horse.
One of 5 stakes winner by the Group I Juddmonte Stakes winner Notnowcato (Inchinor) Redkirk Warrior (GB) advances his record to 8 wins and 2 seconds from 17 starts with earnings of $2,766,520.
He is a half-brother to six winners out of the unraced Selkirk mare Flag a half-sister to the Listed stakes winner Armenian Dancer.
