Messara hoping for track upgrade for Scissor Kick in Golden Rose Stakes

Trainer Paul Messara is hoping for a track upgrade to help the chances of his three year old Scissor Kick in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Scisssor Kick, yellow cap, beat stablemate Panzer Division, black cap, in the Up And Coming Stakes.

Scisssor Kick, yellow cap, beat stablemate Panzer Division, black cap, in the Up And Coming Stakes. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Rosehill track was rated a slow 6 on Friday after being in the heavy range earlier in week and with only a slight chance of any further rain, Australian Turf Club General Manager for racecourses Lindsay Murphy said there could be a chance of an upgrade of track into the dead range.

“If we were to have some sun and drying weather I’d be confident we’d get to a ‘dead’ track tomorrow,” Murphy said.

And even though Scissor Kick was able to complete a hat trick of wins on a heavy track when he beat stablemate Panzer Division by a whisker in the Group 3 $125,000 Synergy FX Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on August 23, Messara is adamant that the Redoute’s Choice colt will be better suited on top of the ground.

“I really need it to be in the dead range for my horses to have his best chance,” Messara told the Sportsman.

“He won on a heavy track last time but he couldn’t handle it and won despite it.”

Scissor Kick and Panzer Division stuck to the inside and were able to miss some serious interference when the Gai Waterhouse trained Liberation who ran out abruptly at the 250m severely hampering his stablemate Valentia and the Peter Moody trained Better Land who were fourth and fifth across the line behind the wayward Liberation.

Valentia and Better Land were each promoted one place following a protest hearing and many on track were adamant that the Moody trained colt would have won with a clear run.

But Messara claims that Scissor Kick won on his merits and would have stretched the winning margin further on a dry track.

“He’s gone into every race and won and they’ve found an excuse for everything else in them,” Messara said.

“I honestly think if it was dry that day Scissor Kick would have brained them.”

Messara is also confronted by a wide barrier draw at twelve and admits that Tye Angland on Scissor Kick will need plenty of luck in the early and middle stages.

“The barrier is awkward, there’s no doubt, and he will need some luck from there,” Messara said.

Messara thought that Scissor Kick was well over the odds before the barrier draw on Tuesday, but the colt was pushed further out in the betting after drawing near the outside of the fifteen horse field and is now a $13 with Ladbrokes.com.au.

Peter Moody’s filly Bring Me The Maid continues to firm and heads the market order for the Golden Rose Stakes at $3.60 ahead of the Bart and James Cummings trained Hallowed Crown at $5.50.

Better Land, also from the Moody stable, has also firmed one point today and is now a $6 chance with Nostradamus from the Team Hawkes stable easing to $8.50 and Almalad is now marked at $9.50.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.