Group One pair enjoying time in paddock

Group One winning sprinters Redkirk Warrior and Vega Magic are enjoying a well-earned spell after a campaign that didn’t quite live up to expectations for Lindsay Park.

But co-trainer Tom Dabernig expects the pair to bounce back in the autumn and is already looking forward to their return.

Redkirk Warrior is likely to be prepared for a first-up assault on the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March, a race he won first-up earlier this year.

On the other hand Vega Magic is likely to be aimed at the Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes, two Group One races over 1400m at Caulfield, a track and distance he was successful at in the Memsie Stakes in September.

Both Redkirk Warrior and Vega Magic contested the inaugural $10 million Everest at Randwick in October.

After winning the Bobbie Lewis at Flemington first-up, Redkirk Warrior finished 10th in The Everest before running a fading 11th in the Darley Classic on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

His stablemate fared better, running second to Redzel in The Everest.

He then finished fifth in the Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley before running seventh in the Darley Classic, also won by Redzel.

“Redkirk Warrior, after the trip to Sydney, he just wasn’t quite the same,” Dabernig said.

“And Vega Magic, he was probably peaking around Everest time.

“I think with his Manikato run, he had tapered a bit but I’m sure they’ll both bounce back in the autumn.

“Redkirk Warrior we’ll look to running first-up to the Newmarket again while for Vega Magic there’s those couple of good 1400 metre races in the autumn.

“Then we’ll probably look at Sydney or he could go back to Adelaide for the Goodwood which he won at his first run for us.”

Dabernig said the pair had only been turned out into the paddock just over a week ago.

“They seem great,” he said.

“They’ve barely lifted their heads since they went out a bit over a week ago.

“They’re enjoying it and they’ll probably get a month out.”