Front running mudlark Redzel scored back to back wins in the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick today.
Redzel, above, made it back to back wins in the 2018 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel won the inaugural running of The Everest for slot holder James Harron twelve months ago but this year the Triple Crown Syndications’ sprinter ran in the slot owned by Yulong Investments.
Redzel is a noted wet tracker and had the conditions to suit with a heavy rated Randwick track and the Snitzel six year old didn’t put a foot wrong on the rain affected surface.
Winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy had Redzel quickly into stride from the inside barrier and when nothing else challenged him for the lead, Redzel was allowed to set his own pace and McEvoy rated him perfectly in front.
McEvoy still had a huge grip on Redzel ($8.50) on top of the rise and once he lengthened the reins, the gelding stretched out in the mud to record a one and a quarter lengths historic win.
The Gerald Ryan trained Trapeze Artist ($10) raced just behind the pace and was chasing hard to fill second spot while Tommy Berry had steered Osborne Bulls ($21) to the outside fence looking for the better going and found third spot.
The Anthony Freedman trained Shoals was well supported to start as the $5 favourite but was always well back in the field and never threaten to finish eleventh in the twelve horse field.
Team Snowden had to change tact four weeks ago when Redzel had to be scratched from the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 15 and miss an important lead up run when he was suffering from muscle soreness.
“I might have got a bit of help from the bloke upstairs. It’s gone perfectly today,” Peter Snowden said.
“To do it once I thought we were very lucky but again it is just unbelievable. I knew we had the horse. I was confident he would make improvement.”
“He (Kerrin McEvoy) judged the pace perfectly to give him the chance to finish off hard and the last furlong was his best. “
“I can’t believe that. He’s a good horse in his own right. He did it tough today. He led so hats off to him. I’m so proud of him.”
McEvoy always had the intention of leading or sitting off the leader but was happy to be handed the front running position without a fight.
“From the one gate, that was Plan A, to control it from the front,” McEvoy said.
“That’s what this horse is able to do. He loved the ground and is such a little warrior. He is a joy to be a part of.”
Redzel had now earned in excess of $15 million for has huge group of Triple Crown Syndicate owners.
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