Diamond Jubilee plan for globetrotter Redkirk Warrior

Redkirk Warrior, number 9, had been running in Hong Kong before being moved to Australia. Picture: Racingfotos.com

Globetrotting Redkirk Warrior is to be targeted at the Diamond Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot after his remarkable win in the Group 1 success in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington on Saturday.

The lightly raced seven-year-old gelding began his career in England, when trained by William Haggas, before being sold to race in Hong Kong.

He was subsequently switched to the yard of David Hayes, in Australia, but now it seems he is set to return to where his story started this summer for an appearance in the QIPCO British Champions Series.

‘’We are genuinely thinking about the Diamond Jubilee on the final day [of Royal Ascot],’’ Hayes said after Redkirk Warrior had come with a stunning burst under Regan Bayliss that swept him from last, with 300 metres to run, to first in one of Australia’s biggest 5f sprints of the year.

Redkirk Warrior is clearly in his element on a straight track and the extra furlong at Ascot will not pose him a problem.

When trained by Haggas in 2014, he won on his debut at Yarmouth, over a mile and a quarter, and then followed up in a handicap at Ascot off a mark of 88 over the same trip.

The son of Notnowcato has clearly not been easy to train – he has had only 12 races – but has raced far more regularly for Hayes, whose Nicconi finished fourth in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2010.

The flawless Black Caviar made history when becoming the first Australian-trained horse to win the Diamond Jubilee Stakes in 2012.