Short priced favourite Redzel has drawn perfectly at barrier six in the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on the first day of The Championships on Saturday.
Redzel,above, is the short priced favourite for the 2018 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Redzel stole the show at The Breakfast With the Stars at Randwick on Tuesday morning with a blistering gallop and the Peter and Paul Snowden trained speed machine will have no trouble finding the front or sitting off the leader from barrier six in the final fourteen horse field.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden was very impressed with Redzel’s slick time he ran for the 800m gallop on the Randwick Course proper and said that he is also surprised at what slick time he can run without looking to have exerted much effort.
“He has a great action and really does cover the ground well,’’ Snowden told Racing New South Wales News Desk.
“In his trial last week I thought he went a bit steady in the first bit and he ran 58 flat. He never looks to be doing that sort of work but that’s what makes him the horse he is.
“He makes hard work look very easy. He’s not a big horse but he has a good stride and is very efficient.
“I wanted to make sure his work was spot on and I didn’t want to work him again.’’
Redzel suffered his first defeat from seven starts when a nose second to Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 17 but was quick to find the winner’s stall again with a last start victory in the Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 10.
The flying son of Snitzel has had a 1000m barrier trial since for an effortless three lengths win over Lanciato at Randwick on March 26 and will be ridden again by regular partner Kerrin McEvoy.
Redzel has won twice over the same course and distance as the T J Smith Stakes, with one of those wins being the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick during the 2017 Sydney Spring Carnival.
Redzel has been installed the $2.25 favourite for the T J Smith Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of last start The Galaxy winner In Her Time at $4 while the Darren Weir trained Brave Smash is the only other runner under the $10 mark at $7.
In Her Time has drawn in close at barrier three with Corey Brown back in the saddle replacing Hong Kong based Zac Purton who partnered the Ben Smith trained mare to victory in the Group 1 $700,000 The PFD Food Services Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 24.
Brown will settle In Her Time in the first half of the field while Craig Williams will be riding for luck in the straight on Brave Smash who drew gate two and runs his best races when allowed to settle back in the field.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will saddle up two runners in the T J Smith Stakes, English and Global Glamour, and both mares have drawn awkwardly at barriers twelve and ten respectively.
English, with Sam Clipperton in the saddle again, is coming off a last start second to In Her Time in The Galaxy while Global Glamour with Saturday’s jockey Tim Clark on board ran a brave race last start when runner up to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $500,000 Bisley Workwear Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 10.
