Rekindled Power to face Sandown Guineas 2014 test

Rekindled Power has shown enough talent to earn his place in the Group Two Sandown Guineas but trainer Paul Messara is convinced the colt will be an even better autumn prospect.

A confidence-building maiden win at Bendigo 12 days ago confirmed plans to press on to Saturday’s Sandown Guineas (1600m) and the son of Redoute’s Choice has since had a familiarisation gallop at the track.

Messara says Rekindled Power has plenty of natural talent but is still learning his craft and expects him to be bigger and stronger again next preparation, regardless of Saturday’s result.

“We’d expect him to run a good race but whether or not the race is coming a bit soon for him in terms of just his maturity and know-how, I guess we’ll find that out on Saturday,” Messara said.

Rekindled Power was narrowly beaten at Canterbury on debut last month before finishing sixth in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes at Randwick won by Group One-placed colt Kuro.

Messara sent Rekindled Power to Bendigo for a 1400m maiden hoping the three-year-old would register a confidence-boosting victory.

He achieved that with a convincing 3-1/2 length win, and Messara said the colt would have taken a lot out of that experience.

Dwayne Dunn, who rode the colt at Bendigo, retains the ride for Saturday’s $300,000 race.

Stakes winner Stratum Star, Group winner Zululand and Saturday’s Flemington winner Lord Aspen are among the 16 nominations with entries extended until Tuesday.

The Randwick and Rosehill Guineas are autumn targets if he progresses as expected.

“He’s a nice horse and did a really nice job at Bendigo,” Messara said.

“It was only a maiden but he did it very well. He probably just lacks the race craft at the moment and is learning all the time, but I certainly wanted to give him a crack at a race like the Sandown Guineas and that’s kind of what we set him for.

“It looks like a tough enough race at a quick glance, but he’s certainly a horse with plenty of potential although I probably think autumn is going to be more of his time.”

Rekindled Power went to Sandown last Thursday for a gallop.

The Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) and Sandown Guineas (1600m) are the two features on the nine-race card.

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