Redzel has produced an outstanding sprint in the final straight at Doomben to break through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).
Redzel (pictured winning at Flemington) stormed home to win the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 this afternoon. Photo: Steve Hart
The Snitzel entire has returned to racing in career-best form this year and did his chances of success no harm when he jumped well and immediately took up the running alongside Upstart Pride.
Ensuring that the race was run at a genuine tempo, Redzel skipped clear of his rivals rounding onto the final straight and never appeared in doubt; maintaining to the line well to beat the fast-finishing Counterattack and classy three-year-old Derryn.
Local hoop Jim Byrne was thrilled to be aboard Redzel in the Doomben 10,000 and was quick to lay all the praise on the classy four-year-old after the race.
“He’s race really well through this preparation and you can see that he’s just gotten stronger and stronger,” Byrne said after the race.
“You can see that he’s just run the six (furlongs) out and it was always going to be a nice race for him.
“There was a couple of little hiccups in the race with the speed that could have annoyed us a bit, but luckily we got it soft enough.
“I knew coming to the turn and passing the 400m if I could just hold him together for a little bit longer. It was a good effort by him.”
Co-trainer Peter Snowden was on hand for Redzel’s win in the Doomben 10,000 and was pleased with the horse’s ability to maintain so well to the line.
“Full credit to the horse, he’s come a long way,” Snowden said.
“To see him win a race like this, he’s an honest and genuine horse and he deserves every bit of it.
“It just goes to show that when you give them a bit of time, he got the belief in himself and was ready for today.”
Redzel returned to the races for consecutive second place finishes in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), but returned to winning form in the Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at his only other start prior to the Doomben 10,000.
Second placegetter Counterattack savaged the line and will likely relish a step up to 1350m in the Group 1 Darley Kingsford Smith at Eagle Farm in a fortnight.
