Dual Everest winner Redzel is unwanted in early betting for the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Redzel, above, will kick off his third Everest campaign in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Redzel, above, will kick off his third Everest campaign in the Concorde Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Only seven horses have been nominated for the 1000m sprint with $251 roughie Lightz is very unlikely to take his place in the final field.

Bookies at Ladbrokes.com.au have installed Redzel at $8 alongside the Kris Lees trained Gauff while the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip has been listed as the $2.10 favourite for the Concorde Stakes.

Multiple Group 1 winner and Everest slot holder Sunlight is next in the betting at $4.60 ahead of Everest bound Pierata at $5.50 and the Tony Golan trained undefeated Zoustyle at $7.

Redzel hasn’t found the winner’s stall since winning 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick almost twelve months ago but did look good in winning a recent 1000m Rosehill barrier trial with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.

McEvoy was very happy with Redzel’s trial and said that the Peter and Paul Snowden trained sprinter felt great underneath him.

“Felt good. He had a nice hit out this morning. Had his blinkers on and Peter and Paul wanted to begin sharp and get out and get rolling and have a nice amount of work there throughout his trial which he was able to do,” McEvoy said after Redzel’s trial on August 20.

“It was important to tick that box with his second trial this morning.”

“He livened up underneath me once I asked him to pick up and had a good solid hit out.’
“So I was pleased with how he moved. His focus was there and he still showed his good willing attitude.”

“There was a nice pass mark there.”

Redzel will run in $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 in the slot owned by Yu Long Investments and will kick off his third Everest campaign when he steps out in Saturday’s Concorde Stakes.

Nature Strip also looked impressive with an eye catching second to Redzel in the 1000m Rosehill barrier trial and trainer Chris Waller is hoping a high class first up performance the talented  sprinter in the Concorde Stakes will gain the attention of the remaining slot owners who are yet to lock in a runner.

The Greg Hickman trained Pierata (Aquis) and Tony McEvoy’s Sunlight (Max Whitby) are already locked into an Everest slot and are also stepping out for the first time for the 2019 Spring Carnival and if Queensland sprinter Zoustyle can keep his unbeaten record intact, could also gain the attention of an Everest slot holder.

Early betting for the 2019 Concorde Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $2.10 Nature Strip, $4.60 Sunlight, $5.50 Pierata, $7 Zoustyle, $8 Graff, Redzel, $251 Lightz.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.