Trainer Peter Snowden and jockey Kerrin McEvoy are hoping they can calculate a winning formula for Redzel in the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Redzel, above, has drawn barrier 4 in The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Redzel drew barrier four in the twelve horse The Everest field and the Triple Crown Syndicated five year old is one of several on pace runners doing battle for the $5.8m first prizemoney cheque.
Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said that it would be crucial that McEvoy got his timing right in the early and middle stages to give Redzel every chance against the hot field that boasts six other Group 1 winners.
“It’s just going to be very tactical how you do it. If you get your maths right you can win it from the front,” Peter Snowden said.
“Kerrin’s good with horses that race on the speed. He judges the pace probably better than anyone.”
“Our best chance is getting our maths right. If we get our sectionals right we’ll be very hard to beat.”
“Even though it’s a sprint no horse is going to go out there and go as fast they can for as long they can.”
“There’s too many good markers in the race. The more pace you put on the more you play into their hands.
Golden Slipper winner and race favourite She Will Reign and three times T J Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua are two of the back makers who will appreciate a really hot pace up front.
Redzel is the winner of his last four starts with three of them from the front while his last start win in the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 16 saw him sit at the girth of the leader Ball Of Muscle before surging away in the straight for a one and a quarter lengths victory.
Three starts back Redzel led all of the way with Jim Byrne in the saddle to win the Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1200m) at Doomben during the 2017 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
McEvoy then took over the reins for an all the way win in the Group 3 $150,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 2 before Hugh Bowman steered him to victory in the Shorts.
The Gary Portelli trained She Will Reign resumed from a spell to score a first up win in the Group 1 $500,000 Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 29 and now sits at the top of the market order for The Everest at $4.80 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
The first of the three Lindsay Park runners Vega Magic is the second pick at $5.50 ahead of Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua at $6 with Redzel marked as a $7 chance.
