Karinska seeks redemption in Hawkesbury Guineas post tough loss

Karinska came agonizingly close in the James H B Carr Stakes but now targets a much-needed stakes success in the Group Three Hawkesbury Guineas.

Bad luck struck the filly at Randwick, where James McDonald shifted her wide for the bid, just to get bumped inward by winner Snitzel Dancer.

She surged late to grab third, an effort that continues to irk Chris Waller's assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth.

'You know when jockeys come in and say, 'I should have won'. This wasn't a 'should have'. There was no air of doubt. It was, 'if I get my run, I win',' Duckworth said.

'She is barging the door down to win one of these.'

Throughout her three-year-old year, Karinska has raced keenly near the leaders in elite company, runner-up in the Furious Stakes and Tea Rose Stakes last spring, then a Group 1 podium finish trailing Apocalyptic in the Flight Stakes.

With James McDonald sidelined this weekend, Tommy Berry steps in and shares Duckworth's conviction that Karinska is on the verge.

'Last start was a good example of how well she is going,' Berry said.

'She has got a great racing style, she can put herself just behind the speed.

'You look at her last prep, the races she was running in and the quality of horses she was up against. It's a bit of a step back from that, and the team is very confident.'

On Friday, Karinska was quoted at $6.50 while striving to emulate Shazee Lee, the last filly to conquer the Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m) nine years back.

Berry views Karinska as a reliable ride, but Tenebaum, the two-year-old, drew him to Hawkesbury.

He partnered the Brad Widdup-prepared colt through three trials leading to a commanding first-up score at Wyong, positioning him as a Brisbane winter contender.

'He is the main reason I chose to stay in Sydney instead of going to Queensland. I think he's got the potential to be a J J Atkins horse,' Berry said.

'He put them away quite easily last start at Wyong and won by a margin, which is hard to do for two-year-olds.

'The penny is just starting to drop with him. He will improve again off the weekend but to go to Queensland and be competitive in those races, he's going to have to put in a good showing on Saturday.'

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