Jockey Craig Williams is hoping that he can help turn around the luck of Scissor Kick when he rides the talented colt in the 2014 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.
Scissor Kick has the chance to record a maiden win at Group 1 level in the 2014 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Race Horse Photos Australia
Scissor Kick stamped himself as a colt to watch with narrow wins in the Listed The Rosebud (1200m) at Royal Randwick on August 9 and the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at the same venue on August 23 before he finished a close second behind Hallowed Crown in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) after being caught wide throughout the race.
The Redoute’s Choice colt was once again caught wide in the early stages of the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and he was set a tough assignment by jockey Tye Angland, but was still able to battle home bravely to finish second behind subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner Shooting To Win.
Scissor Kick will be having his first start down the famous Flemington straight in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but Williams told RSN this morning that the three-year-old performed strongly in a jump out down the straight last Friday and believes that straight racing could suit the Group 1 placegetter because there is no danger he will be caught wide.
“I guess when you are running down the straight there is no wide position they are just running in a straight line and hopefully he won’t get bad luck,” Williams said.
“In Sydney he was marred by awkward barrier draws and that is the difference especially at Group 1 level; if you get the luck you are in and if you get the bad luck than you never in.
“I had my first sit on him down the straight on Friday and I was very impressed.
“I was very comfortable with the way that he handled himself the first time going down the straight.”
The 2014 Coolmore Stud Stakes field was released this morning and has drawn a stunning field of 16 talented three-year-olds including Schillaci Stakes winner Rubick, Caulfield Guineas runner-up Rich Enuff and talented filly Earthquake.
Williams admits that Scissor Kick will face very stiff competition in the Coolmore Stud Stakes, but he remains hopeful that the potential stallion prospect is more than capable of mixing it with the best three-year-olds at the highest level of racing.
“He is a very nice horse and when you have a look at the horses in that race I actually think that it is the race of the day,” Williams said.
“There are about five three-year-olds in that race that look like future stars of future sires.
“It is going to be a very competitive race and they are the best three-year-olds running around at the moment.”
Scissor Kick is currently available at 2014 Coolmore Stud Stakes odds of $16, while Rich Enuff ($3.20) has opened as favourite from Kuro ($5.50), Brazen Beau ($6.50) and Rubick ($7).
