Darley Classic the big aim for Redkirk Warrior upon return to Australia

Redkirk Warrior will be targeted at the Group 1 Darley Classic in his native Australia after he finished tenth in the July Cup on Saturday.

The three-time Group 1 winner – who also finished tenth in the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot – was beaten six lengths at Newmarket in a race won by The Everest-bound US Navy Flag.

Watch a replay of the July Cup

Co-trainer David Hayes, who trains in partnership with his son Ben and Tom Dabernig, said: "Clearly he was disappointing, but he was just drawn the wrong part of the track both times.

"I think he would have finished maybe fourth or fifth if he was on the other side. It certainly didn’t cost him the race.

"We’ll just bring him home and set him for the Darley."

The Group 1 Darley Classic will be run on November 10 over six furlongs at Flemington, a course and distance over which Redkirk Warrior has won three times, including the past two Newmarket Handicaps.

Hayes added: "The racing’s so great in Australia and Flemington put on a lot of good sprints. He goes (well) at the Valley and he goes (well) at Sandown, so there’s enough good racing in Melbourne for him.

"We’ll make him just a Melbourne specialist. He’s got an extremely good record in Melbourne."

Redkirk Warrior will rest in Britain before returning to Australia with the first load of northern hemisphere spring raiders in September.

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