James Harron Bloodstock has secured a deal overnight with Triple Crown Syndications to have the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Redzel fill their slot in the inaugural The Everest 2017 race in Sydney next month.
Redzel is the sixth horse to secure a spot in next month’s 2017 The Everest field at Royal Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
Redzel put his name right in contention for the Restricted $10 million The Everest (1200m), run at Royal Randwick on October 14, with a brilliant first-up victory in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) on September 2.
It has now been confirmed that Harron has done the paperwork, swooping in to give the Snitzel five-year-old a spot in the 12-starter The Everest field.
“I was surprised Redzel had not been taken before now and I wanted to lock a horse sooner rather than later,” Harron told The Sydney Morning Herald.
“Our horses Pariah and Dracarys are going to the Golden Rose and looking for 1400 metres to a mile, so we had to find a horse and I think we have the right horse.”
There are now six confirmed The Everest horses with Redzel joining: Chautauqua (Greg Ingham), She Will Reign (Yo Long Investments), Houtzen (Aquis Farm), Fell Swoop (William Inglis and Son) and English (Tabcorp).
Redzel has won eight of his 18 career starts to date, including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) during this year’s Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.
That elite level win was much deserved after he was beaten the barest of margins by stablemate Russian Revolution when the duo ran one-two after running down mudlark Jungle Edge in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) on a Heavy (10) Rosehill track on March 18.
Redzel carted 60kg to his first-up Concorde Stakes win over Spieth who was two lengths back second, giving Snowden’s galloper a big advantage getting to weight-for-age in The Everest.
Having now secured his spot, Triple Crown’s Michael Ward said the pressure was off Redzel who will now line-up against fellow The Everest hopefuls Chautauqua, Fell Swoop and English in this Saturday’s Group 2 The Shorts (1100m).
“He was only a $120,000 buy and the people that are in would not even dream of running in a race like this,” Ward said.
“It didn’t exist, so it is a dream result.
“It is a fantastic opportunity for us and he is just getting better every preparation.
“We are very excited and think he will run well.
“Redzel has had a meteoric rise over the last 12 months.
“This has seen him record a Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 in May before returning with an emphatic win first up in the Concorde Stakes, producing the highest Time Form rating for that race in the past 20 years.
“Trainer’s Peter and Paul Snowden told us early on he had stepped up to another level again this preparation and it’s an honour to have one of the very best sprinters in the land.
“It’s a great fit to team up with JHB and we look forward to climbing Everest with them.”
Redzel is currently rated a $9 chance in futures The Everest betting at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Those all-in The Everest odds have Chautauqua and unconfirmed starter Vega Magic at an equal $5 each for the win.
Back your favourite horses in The Everest 2017 betting markets now through Ladbrokes.com.au.
