Reigning title holder Redzel remains the firm favourite for back to back wins following the barrier draw for the Group 1 $700,000 Kirin Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Redzel, above, remains the short priced favourite for the 2018 Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained Redzel has drawn barrier six in the final fourteen horse field and has firmed in slightly to be the $2.30 top pick in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Top Brisbane jockey Jim Byrne steered Redzel to victory in the 2017 Doomben 10000 but this year’s mount goes to Kerrin McEvoy who has been the five year old’s partner for his last five starts and includes wins in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival and in the Group 1 $1m Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on the final day of the 2017 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
“I’m very happy with his draw and he’s as good if not a bit better than last year,” Peter Snowden told Racing Queensland News Desk.
“He only just got beaten in the T J Smith and he’s been racing in much stronger company than last year when he was still going through the grades.”
On the second line of betting at $3.70 is the Ben Smith trained In Her Time who has drawn barrier eight with Melbourne Cup winning jockey Corey Brown in the saddle.
In Her Time claimed her first taste of Group 1 glory with a win in the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 24 and then ran home from the back when third behind Trapeze Artist and Redzel in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Day One of The Championships.
Redzel and In Her Time are the only two runners under the double figure mark with the James Cummings trained Impending on the third line of betting at $11 just ahead of Kris Lees’ multiple Group 1 winner Le Romain at $13.
Impending was also a Group 1 winner during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival and carried the famous Godolphin royal blue colours to victory in the Group 1 $1.5m Stradbroke Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.
Impending has returned to Brisbane for a win with Damian Browne in the saddle in the Group 2 $200,000 Hiflow Industries Victory Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on April 28.
Browne will again be in charge of Impending who will jump from gate nine in the fourteen horse Doomben 10,000 field.
