Co-trainer Peter Snowden is content that last year’s winner Redzel will carry the underdog tag into the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Redzel, above, will go into The Everest 2018 with the underdog tag. Photo by Steve Hart.
Redzel won the inaugural running of The Everest twelve months ago for slot holder James Harron but will run for Yulong Investments this year.
In early betting for The Everest, Redzel had been installed as the favourite but his price has drifted out to $8 at Ladbrokes.com.au following a setback and a last start fifth to Santa Ana Lane in the Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 29.
As a result the pressure is off Redzel to score back to back wins in the world’s richest race on turf and Peter Snowden is happy to go in as the underdog.
“That’s great, I love it,’’ Peter Snowden told Racing New South Wales News Desk.
Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said that Redzel has completely recovered from his muscle soreness that saw him scratched from the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 15.
“The setback wasn’t planned, I was disappointed the way it happened and it might have been a blessing. I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment,” Peter Snowden said.
“He looks so much better, he has tightened right up and his coat has come good. It’s amazing how much he has improved from the run.”
“It was probably only natural he was above himself, a month between runs he normally has a barrier trial in between and he didn’t have that.’
“I was critical on the day but it was no fault of Kerrin’s, he said the horse pulled all the way to the barriers and he never does that. Since that race I’ve been impressed with how he’s tightened up.’’
“It’s a very strong race. The barrier draw is going to be so crucial.’’
The barrier draw for the $13 million sprint will be conducted tonight (Tuesday) on the foreshores of Circular Quay in Sydney with The Everest trophy, barrier numbers and jockey silk colours beamed on to the Opera House sails.
Big race jockey Kerrin McEvoy rode Redzel to victory in the 2017 The Everest and will be aboard the Triple Crown Syndications’ sprinter again this year.
The final twelve runners for The Everest 2018
| # | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11x2124x15 | REDZEL | G | 6 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 1 | 58.5kg | 118 |
| 2 | 110x45291x | U S NAVY FLAG (USA) | H | 4 | Aidan O’Brien | 2 | 58kg | 117 |
| 3 | x6x0311x51 | SANTA ANA LANE | G | 6 | Anthony Freedman | 3 | 58.5kg | 116 |
| 4 | x74232x172 | LE ROMAIN | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 4= | 58.5kg | 115 |
| 5 | 0x14311x34 | TRAPEZE ARTIST | H | 4 | Gerald Ryan | 4= | 58.5kg | 115 |
| 6 | 11257x8x14 | VEGA MAGIC | G | 6 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 4= | 58.5kg | 115 |
| 7 | x112x139x3 | IN HER TIME | M | 6 | Kris Lees | 7= | 56.5kg | 114 |
| 8 | 21x81x1x32 | SHOALS | M | 4 | Anthony Freedman | 7= | 56.5kg | 114 |
| 9 | x2411x20x1 | VIDDORA | M | 6 | Lloyd Kennewell | 7= | 56.5kg | 114 |
| 10 | 531270×332 | BRAVE SMASH (JPN) | H | 6 | Darren Weir | 10 | 58.5kg | 112 |
| 11 | 1x1230x214 | HOME OF THE BRAVE (IRE) | G | 7 | James Cummings | 11 | 58.5kg | 111 |
| 12 | 11×123 | GRAFF | C | 3 | Kris Lees | 12 | 53kg | 94 |
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