In demand jockey Kerrin McEvoy is non-committal at this stage if he will partner two times winner Redzel in the 2019 $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is yet to commit to Redzel, above, in the 2019 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
McEvoy has been Redzel’s regular partner since March, 2017, and the pair have combined for numerous wins, including the only two runnings of The Everest in 2017 and 2018.
McEvoy was back aboard Redzel for second in an 800m Gosford barrier trial on Monday but will wait until the Peter and Paul Snowden trained sprinter has his first run back in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 7 before making The Everest decision.
“Hopefully we can wait and see how Redzel goes first-up,” McEvoy said on RSN.
“That will determine where I am on that day, whether it is Caulfield or whether it is Everest day on the back of a different horse or whether it’s on the back of Redzel.
“Hopefully the horse (Redzel) can get there and we know if he can bounce back to his best form he will give the race a shake again.”
Redzel will race in The Everest slot owned by Yulong Investments while McEvoy has also been the regular partner for the lightly raced Classique Legend who will fill Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing’s slot.
McEvoy will no doubt also have plenty of offers to ride in the Group 1 $5.15m Stella Artois Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield on the same day as The Everest.
Redzel has failed to find the winner’s stall from five starts since winning the 2018 The Everest but co-trainer Paul Snowden is hopeful that the front running seven year old will be back to his best in the upcoming 2019 Spring Carnival after watching his trial.
“He has shown a fair bit of intent there the last furlong without being asked to do anything,” Paul Snowden told Sky Sports Radio.
“It was a nice trial first-up, probably better than what he did last year first-up so he is on-track and happy with what he did.”
Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has the two time winner marked at $11 to claim The Everest for a third consecutive year while the Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane heads up the market order at $5.
Early betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Arcadia Queen, Pierata, $9 Sunlight, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Redzel, $13 Alizee, In Her Time, $15 Brutal, Enticing Star, Ten Sovereigns, $17 Graff, $21 Hot King Prawn, Zoustyle, Nature Strip, $26 Advertise, The Bostonian, Yes Yes Yes, $34 Vega Magic, Zousain, $41 or better the rest.
