Redzel makes own way in front in Hall Mark
Toughened up by two recent close defeats, Redzel has had his moment in the sun with a Group Three win at Randwick.
The noted front-runner was collard by English in the Group Two Challenge Stakes and again by his stablemate Russian Revolution in the Group One Galaxy.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden said the four-year-old had been toughened up by those defeats and he showed his mettle in Saturday’s Hall Mark Stakes (1200m),his first win over further than 1100m.
“He did a good job today in very testing conditions,” Snowden said.
“There’s no better thing for horses in need of confidence than winning.”
After being beaten a short head and a short neck at his past two, Redzel’s margin was a decisive three-quarters of a length over Counterattack with Hellbent another half length third.
Snowden said the Brisbane winter carnival sprints were now the objective.
“He almost won a Group One, got beaten a half head a month ago, so I don’t see a Group One being out of reach,” he said.
“Handicaps would probably suit him but he does carry weight well.”
Redzel’s jockey Kerrin McEvoy agreed and said spacing his runs had also helped Redzel.
“Peter and Paul have handled him well,” he said.
“There might be some races for him up there during the carnival in Brissie.”
Brisbane will also be the destination for Hellbent with trainer Darren Weir saying the Stradbroke Handicap would be a goal.
“He is probably better ridden off the speed,” Weir said.
“He will definitely be going to Brisbane.”
Hellbent came from back in the field to miss a Group One win by a short half head when second to Silent Sedition in the William Reid Stakes at his previous start.
His jockey Damian Lane said that he was not as effective on the heavy ground.