Australia’s leading sprinter Redzel remains in the red in the betting for the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington today.
Redzel, above, is the odds on favourite for the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington. Photo by Steve Hart.
Betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Redzel as the $1.80 favourite to win the Black Caviar Lightning down the Flemington straight on a good 4 rated track.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel is chasing his seventh win on the trot after showing his liking for the straight course in winning the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the last day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Closest to Redzel in the betting is the Tony McEvoy trained Hey Doc at $7.50 just ahead of last year’s Black Caviar Lightning winner Terravista $8 and Redkirk Warrior at $11.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden said Redzel is in top shape heading to his first up Autumn Carnival assignment in the Black Caviar Lightning and rounded off his preparation with a smart 1000m barrier trial win at Rosehill on February 5.
“I’m not one to get too carried away, but I’m happy with his preparation and the way he looks,” Snowden told racing.com.
“He’s quite forward and you need to be. These Group 1 races are very hard to win but his work on Tuesday suggested to me, he’s back on track.
“The beauty about this bloke, he runs his own races. He’s got tremendous gate speed and he drew just where I wanted to draw (gate nine of 10) actually because from the outside we can please ourselves and we won’t be dictated to by anything.
Redzel has drawn near the outside rail at nine in the ten horse field but Snowden said that is not a problem and Kerrin McEvoy will be able to place the five year old where ever he wants to in the early stages of the races.
Redzel’s usual racing pattern is to be on the pace but with the speedsters Super Too and Ball Of Muscle certain to go forward, McEvoy is more than likely just going to try to keep then in his sights.
“Whether he’s in front or outside the leader or just sitting off one it won’t matter. He races very well down the straight. Nothing will be crossing him,” Snowden said.
“Being 1000 metres, it’s all about you can’t afford to make one mistake. Just missing the start by a neck can cost you the race. There are always variables.”
“He’s meeting the same sort of horses he met before he went out for a spell.”
“I’m certainly not downplaying the opposition but I’m confident the horse is up to the challenge on Saturday.”
With the prospect of a hot pace up front, Snowden can see last year’s winner and backmarker Terravista as one of the hardest to beat.
“He’s one horse that does excel here,” Snowden said.
“Although he’s getting older he saves his best for here.”
Redzel hit the spotlight during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival when he win the inaugural running of the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick and is the early $4.60 favourite for the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes on April 7 over the same course and distance as The Everest.
Snowden will decide after the Black Caviar Lightning if Redzel stays in Melbourne for the Group 1 $500,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at The Valley on March 23 or heads back to Sydney to prepare for the T J Smith Stakes on the first day of The Championships.
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