Racing: Darci Brahma heads for Melbourne but Aussies are not impressed

SYDNEY - Darci Brahma will fly to Melbourne today "bang on" in condition for the A$755,000 ($853,975) Australia Guineas on Saturday, trainer Mark Walker says.

The colt worked with top filly Shikoba yesterday morning and his gallop was "first class", Walker said.

"I was very happy with him, he is bang on for Saturday. As long as he travels and arrives in one piece we will be there doing our best."

However, Walker is under no illusions about the task facing his three-times group one winning colt in the group one guineas at Flemington.

"It's not going to be easy. The opposition? I rate them tough."

Darci Brahma was an $8 third favourite with Melbourne bookmaker Michael Eskander yesterday. God's Own was a $2.30 guineas favourite, with filly Serenade Rose $3.70.

All the talk has been about Serenade Rose since her impressive win in the group two Angus Armanasco Stakes on Saturday.

Trainer Lee Freedman has talked positively about her chances against the colts, but said he would reserve his decision about a start until later in the week.

Jockey Steven King is on standby and has said the filly would have no problems with the quick turnaround from Saturday's win.

TABSportsbet's Glenn Munsie rated Serenade Rose the best filly in Australia after her win, saying she would demolish a lacklustre guineas field.

"Put it this way, if Serenade Rose starts in the guineas, she wins," he told the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

"There are no stars there. God's Own is the hype horse.

"As for the New Zealander Darci Brahma, his first-up run was just a run while I don't think he improved much the other day [in the Otaki-Maori Stakes] - 3-year-olds are entitled to win at weight-for-age by a bigger space if they're any good."

Walker is unfazed by the criticism.

"We're used to that, it doesn't worry me. I always let the horses do the talking on the track and normally they have come out on top."

He said Darci Brahma had improved since his win over Kristov in the Otaki-Maori Stakes.

"I left enough in him so the race and the trip down to Otaki wasn't going to hurt him."

He rates Darci Brahma as the best horse to be trained at Te Akau Stables, but he won't be on course at Flemington to watch him, as he is staying for the final day of the Auckland carnival at Ellerslie.

Foreman Andrew Carston is accompanying the colt.

- NZPA