Bridge looking for sweet rewards in Sydney

4 March 2016

Kiwi trainer James Bridge is hoping for a deluxe performance from Mackintosh in his Australian debut in Saturday’s $A1 million Gr.1 Randwick Guineas (1600m).

A winner of two of his three starts, including a last-start defeat of leading Gr.1 New Zealand Derby candidate Raghu, Mackintosh has drawn barrier 11 for his Australian debut in which he will be ridden by former champion New Zealand apprentice Rory Hutchings.

“He’s great. He’s thriving over here,” Bridge said from Sydney.

“He’s fresh-up but that shouldn’t worry him. We’re hoping his residual fitness will look after him for this race. He had a trial at Warwick Farm the other day so he had a good clean out from that.”

Bred by Waikato Stud, Mackintosh initially raced for Bridge and his father John but has since been on-sold to Lib Petagna, Tony Muollo and Tony Muollo senior.

Tony Muollo holds a strong hand in the Randwick Group One feature, having bred and part-owning odds-on favourite Press Statement, while Lib Petagna also part-owns the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Dal Cielo, who like Mackintosh will race in his colours.

“We’ll see how he copes in this company before we make any big plans with him. It will be a big test but I’d like to think he’s a good first-five chance,” Bridge said.

“We could look at the Rosehill Guineas if we can get into that or else we could go to the Tulloch Stakes a week later. The ideal aim is the Australian Derby if he’s going well enough.” – NZ Racing Desk

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