Luke Currie chasing second Group 1 Australian Guineas win with Ndola

Jockey Luke Currie was eager to stick with Ndola after his debut win and that faith could be rewarded with success in the Group 1 Australian Guineas on Saturday.

Jockey Luke Currie’s confidence in Ndola could be realised with Group 1 success at Flemington in the Australian Guineas (1600m).

Currie, a 13-time Group 1-winner, has ridden the Lindsay Park three-year-old colt in six of seven starts for three wins and two places.

A sparkling debut off-Broadway at Pakenham Synthetic win eight months ago inspired Currie to follow the Justify colt, runner-up last start in the Group 3 CS Hayes (1400m) at Flemington.

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Currie, who won the 2017 Australian Guineas on Hey Doc, said Ndola always showed Group 1 attributes and needed not to improve much to be in the finish on Saturday.

“They’re very different types of horses but I hope he ends up with the record Hey Doc did,” Currie said.

Hey Doc won four Group 1s including two Manikato Stakes.

Ndola could open his account at the highest level on Saturday.

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“I’ve felt like right from the start (Ndola has Group 1 ability) … he’s definitely a horse on the way up,” Currie said.

“He’s got to match it with some horses already at that mark, Angel Capital and those types, but the way he’s been going he doesn’t need to improve much and he’s there.

“When I rode him (Ndola) in his maiden, first start at Pakenham, he ran a really slick time, I was very keen to stay on him from then on.”

Luke Currie says Ndola has shown “Group 1 attributes”. Picture: George Sal/Racing Photos via Getty Images

Ndola is a $19 chance in a wide open Australian Guineas outside the top three Angel Capital ($4), CS Hayes Stakes winner Sepals ($4.60) and Sydney raider Point And Shoot ($5).

Ndola sustained a long run last start in the CS Hayes to finish second behind Sepals.

Sepals enjoyed a cushy run off speed and sprinted clear late for an emphatic win.

“Without winning you couldn’t be any happier with his (Ndola’s) run going into the big one this week, it’s pretty positive,” Currie said.

“I was a little bit surprised, I thought he would still need the benefit of that second-up run and it surprised me a bit how strong he was.

“He did get tired the last little bit but he had to make a long run at them … going into his third up run the boys will have him spot on.”

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Currie said Ndola would again be patiently ridden – from the wide barrier – and saved up for the last shot at them.

“He showed he’s a horse that appreciates being ridden a bit quieter and how he’s mainly raced throughout his career so far,” Currie said.

“Riding him quiet the other day he was very strong, I don’t think he needs to be put into the race too much, he’ll be one hitting the line.”

Originally published as Luke Currie chasing second Group 1 Australian Guineas win with Ndola