Scissor Kick has been scratched from the 2015 Arrowfield Sprint and will instead contest a barrier trial at Warwick Farm this morning before potentially returning to racing in the 2015 All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick next weekend.
Scissor Kick will not contest the 2015 Arrowfield Sprint at Royal Randwick tomorrow. Photo by: Steve Hart
Scissor Kick was included in the Arrowfield Sprint field that was released on Tuesday morning, but trainer Paul Messara revealed earlier in the week that he was not keen to run the Redoute’s Choice entire on a wet track and he officially ruled the three-year-old out of the Group 2 event this morning.
“A lot depends on the weather,” Messara said earlier in the week.
“We are in a little bit of a tricky position with him.
“He had a little virus and we had to back-up off him, so the option is either to run Saturday depending on the weather or we can trial him against this Friday and put him in the All Aged.”
The 2015 Arrowfield Sprint field is packed full of talent and Joe Pride-trained Kuro remains a clear favourite at a quote of $3.20 following the scratching of Scissor Kick this morning.
Kuro started his 2015 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival campaign with a disappointing third place finish behind Nayeli and Peeping in the Listed Fireball Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on March 7, but he returned to his best form with a strong second behind Sweet Idea in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Earthquake is currently on the second line of Arrowfield Sprint betting markets at a quote of $5.50 and has been an early market mover in the Group 2 event.
The Exceed And Excel filly is yet to record a race win this preparation but, after a flat effort in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 28, she has performed well without winning in the Moomba Plate (1100m) at Flemington on March 14 and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on March 27.
Rubick is another horse that is chasing his first win this preparation following credible efforts in both the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on March 7 and The Galaxy, while 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun ($9) and the resuming Bring Me The Maid ($9.50) are the only other horses available at single figure Arrowfield Sprint results.
There has been a sprinkling of support for Team Hawkes-trained Nostradamus ($26 into to $21), while Rekindled Power ($21 out to $26) has been on the drift.
