A sparingly-raced mare with dodgy knees will be out to help fill a stable void for trainer Alan Scorse at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.Talapega, sensationally backed before she was beaten into second place at Randwick last month, can ease Scorse's disappointment over the loss of Looking Fur Lang with a winning result in the Riverside Handicap (1300m).Scorse said it was decided the time was right for Looking Fur Lang, a seven-year-old, to head into a well-deserved retirement after his Rosehill failu

A sparingly-raced mare with dodgy knees will be out to help fill a stable void for trainer Alan Scorse at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Talapega, sensationally backed before she was beaten into second place at Randwick last month, can ease Scorse's disappointment over the loss of Looking Fur Lang with a winning result in the Riverside Handicap (1300m).

Scorse said it was decided the time was right for Looking Fur Lang, a seven-year-old, to head into a well-deserved retirement after his Rosehill failure on January 22.

In a 40-start career, Looking Fur Lang won nine times with highlight victories coming in the Grey Stars Classic during the 2008 Melbourne Cup carnival and last year's Tamworth Cup.

His prizemoney earnings were almost $280,000.

"Looking Fur Lang was a pretty good horse for me," Scorse said.

"He tried his heart out every time and horses who do that can't go on forever."

Talapega arrived at Scorse's Newcastle stables as the winner of her only start - in February last year - when under the care of Warwick Farm trainer Greg Hickman.

"She's got crook knees and we give her a fair bit of swimming to keep her in order," Scorse said.

His patience with Talapega was almost rewarded on the back of a $12 to $4.40 betting move which was ultimately foiled by the brilliance of Jim Cassidy on Just Been Lucky at Randwick on January 19.

"I thought she was a bit unlucky because another horse was laying all over her and she lost a bit of momentum when it counted," Scorse said.

Scorse believes the mare has a genuine future but says she will need an A-grade Josh Parr ride at Warwick Farm.

"I think she's got a fair bit of ability but the wide draw (14) doesn't make it easy for her," Scorse, who is among the Australian contingent at this week's New Zealand yearling sales, said.

"She's going to need her share of luck."

Racing NSW, meanwhile, is on weather watch with Sydney struck by a heatwave.

Stewards will putin place the first level of a hot weather policy as temperatures in the mid to high 30s are forecast in Sydney's west during the meeting.

Horses and jockeys will be under constant supervision from the time they arrive on course until they have completed their engagements.