The Everest favourite Redzel has been scratched from today’s Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick.

Redzel, above, has been scratched from The Shorts at Randwick today. Photo by Steve Hart.

Co-trainer Peter Snowden reported to Racing New South Wales stewards this morning that Redzel was suffering from muscle soreness and was unfit to take his place in the important lead up race to the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.

Redzel is the current $4.50 favourite to score back to back wins in The Everest with Ladbrokes.com.au and the flying Snitzel gelding will now have to pass a veterinary examination before being cleared to continue his 2018 Spring Carnival campaign.

Racing New South Wales Stewards released the following statement this morning.

“Trainer Peter Snowden has reported to Racing NSW Stewards this morning that Redzel (Race 4, No 1) is to be withdrawn from The Shorts today at Randwick after being found to have muscle soreness when inspected this morning.

“Mr Snowden has advised the gelding will be subject to a full veterinary examination, the results of which shall be reported to the Stewards.”

Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, told Sky Racing’s Racing HQ Saturday that Redzel will have a complete examination this morning to find out the cause of the problem and get him back into shape as soon as possible.

“It is just one of those things,” Peter Snowden said.

“He went to bed as good as gold, you know, he was one hundred per cent during the week, never had a problem and his work has been outstanding, his blood was good.”

“Every box was ticked. Last night he was fine, yesterday afternoon he was perfect.”

“Woke up this morning and went to saddle him up, went out for a walk before his exercise, but he struggled to get out of the box, he was that stiff and sore.”

“He obviously got cast, even though there is not a mark on him or in the box or anywhere. Something has happened through the night, it certainly wasn’t there yesterday.”

“We have the right people on him at the moment to find out exactly what is wrong. At the moment he is just stiff and sore as if he got cast and a muscle pulled somewhere.”

“We will know more in a few hours and hopefully it is just a muscle thing and with a bit of physio work on him he will be fine.”

“It appears to be that’s the problem but we will know more in a few hours time.”

Redzel was the ruling short priced favourite for today’s Shorts but with his race morning withdrawal with the field reduced to seven runners, stablemates Invincible Star at $2.70 and English at $3.10 are fighting for the top spot in the betting just ahead of the Darren Weir trained Brave Smash at $4.20.

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Invincible Star and English as well as the Japanese import Brave Smash, are also heading towards The Everest.