Redzel stakes claim for Everest
Group One-winning sprinter Redzel has staked an emphatic claim for inclusion in the country’s richest race with his triumphant return in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick.
With tactics all important in the four-horse field for Saturday’s Group Three 1000m sprint, Kerrin McEvoy left nothing to chance and took Redzel ($2.25 fav) straight to the front and kept him going to hold Spieth ($2.70) by two lengths.
The Australian Turf Club is expected to announce its representative for the $10 million Everest next week.
All 12 slots for the subscription race on October 14 have been sold but only half have been filled.
“Redzel is a Randwick horse and he’s a Group One weight-for-age winner so he has to be under serious consideration,” ATC chief executive Darren Pearce said.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden said he hoped the win convinced the ATC or another slot holder the Doomben 10,000 winner deserved inclusion.
“It’s been all about an Everest preparation. Today just started that,” Snowden said.
“We will space his runs to get a result as we’ve done in the last two preparations.”
“That speaks for itself. It’s four weeks to the Moir and no doubt he’s going to be mighty hard to beat there and hopefully we pick up a slot very soon.
“We wanted to make our intention quite clear early in the preparation that he deserves to be there.”
Spieth’s trainer Bryce Heys is also hoping the sprinter can make the Everest field and is confident the dual Group One placegetter will improve off the run.
“It is what it is,” Heys said.
“We have to be happy with that and he will improve.
“The small field didn’t help his cause.”
Spieth’s jockey Corey Brown agreed with the trainer.
“He ran really, really well,” Brown said.
“They were really stepping up along early going at a quick speed.
“He was running to win topping the rise but I think the fitness of the winner told.
“My horse is improving and he’ll do well.”