Redzel beats Terravista in Listed sprint
Redzel has produced a performance of sustained speed out on his own in the Listed Mumm Stakes at Flemington to defeat Group One sprinter Terravista.
Blake Shinn angled Redzel towards the outside section of the track as soon as the gates opened in Thursday’s straight-track sprint over 1000m while the rest of the field came down the middle of the course.
Shinn allowed Redzel ($5.50) to roll along and the gelding gave a kick at the 300m before holding on to deny the fast-finishing Terravista by a half-head with another two lengths to favourite Hellbent.
“It was our plan to go to the outside, regardless of what the other horses did,” co-trainer Peter Snowden said.
“He was going to be in front anyway so not having horses around him wasn’t going to matter.”
Snowden said Redzel loves to lead but when he got crossed in the Group One Moir Stakes last start, when finishing eighth, he could see the sprinter’s demeanour change.
So he said the plan was to let Redzel roll along but also try to save something for the last 100m because they expected Terravista and Hellbent to be closing strongly.
“Luckily he was able to just hang on,” Snowden said.
A Magic Millions race at Ballarat in 16 days is on the radar for Redzel, while Snowden said the Lightning Stakes over the same course and distance early next year was a consideration.
Terravista settled back with cover before sprinting through between runners and closing strongly in his first start since the TJ Smith Stakes in April.
Trainer Joe Pride said the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth was still an option.
“It’s disappointing to lose but the horse has come back really well,” Pride said.