Hidden Warrior will be out to emulate the deeds of his half-sister Defiant Dame by winning one of the first two-year-old races of the Sydney season at Randwick on Saturday.
The David Payne-trained Defiant Dame took out the Listed Gimcrack Stakes (1000m) for fillies on the corresponding program last year.
On Saturday, Hidden Warrior will line up for Newcastle trainer Paul Perry in the colts and gelding’s version, the Listed Breeders Plate (1000m).
“He has trialled really, really well,” Perry said.
“Whether he’s up to the better ones or not, I’m not sure.
“He is (also) a half-brother to Sea Spur who I trained and he didn’t go too badly but had a few problems.”
Sea Spur, by Flying Spur, didn’t win a race as a juvenile but was placed at three in the 2009 Listed Heritage Stakes (1200m) won by Stryker.
Like Defiant Dame, Hidden Warrior’s dam Marcovette did go early and finished fourth in the 2001 Kindergarten Stakes (1100m) behind Royal Courtship, Ha Ha and Donna Natalia.
Perry went to $105,000 to buy Hidden Warrior, a son of Hidden Dragon, at the Magic Millions Premier Sale.
The youngster posted a seven-length win at his only barrier trial over 800m at Newcastle on September 20.
He has drawn well for his debut in barrier three with the in-form Christian Reith to ride.
Hidden Warrior will have 12 rivals including Lord Duveen, Spirit Of Speed and Gottagun who all won their respective 900m heats at the official two-year-old trials at Canterbury on September 19.
The Chris Waller-trained Spirit Of Speed was the fastest of the colts and geldings clocking 55 seconds in his head win over Darley’s Forget, who will be among his Breeders Plate rivals.
A field of 13 also accepted for the Gimcrack Stakes, among them the Grahame Begg-trained Kyria who created a good impression when she clocked the fastest heat win at Canterbury.
AAP TURF
