Trainer Peter Snowden is finding it hard to split his two top chances, Russian Revolution and Redzel, when they clash in the Group 1 $700,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.

Redzel, above, has conditions to suit in the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.

The last time the pair met was on a heavy 10 rated track when only a short neck separated the two sprinters with the three year old Russian Revolution getting the judge’s decision in the Group 1 $700,000 Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18.

The Doomben track was rated a heavy 8 on Thursday morning and with both Russian Revolution (barrier 5) and Redzel (barrier 3) drawing inside gates and with conditions to suit, Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said he is finding it hard to separate the two.

“There’s not a lot between them and luckily they’ve both drawn well and can handle heavy tracks,” Peter Snowden told Racing Queensland News.

“The last time they met in The Galaxy there was only a short neck between them.

“Redzel is probably the better horse on a heavy track but Russian Revolution is a very promising three-year-old on the way up.

“Luck on the day and the track conditions will play a big part.”

Although Snowden is hoping his pair fight out the finish again, he is a little concerned that under the weight for age conditions of the Doomben 10,000, Russian Revolution as a three year old with 57kg is close in the weights to the well performed older sprinters who have to carry 58.5kg.

“He’s only a three-year-old and I think he’s badly weighted against some of the more seasoned sprinters,” Snowden said.

“He’s got to carry 57kg against this opposition and he looks too closely weighted against some of these more seasoned sprinters.”

Snowden is thinking the Doomben 10,000 will be the pair’s only Brisbane Winter Carnival start and is leaning towards putting Russian Revolution away after the weekend before preparing him for a Spring campaign while the 1200m of Saturday’s Group 1 sprint is as far as Redzel likes to run.

“I’ll see how they both run on Saturday first but there’s a good chance they could both spell immediately to prepare for the spring after the 10,000,” Snowden said.

Russian Revolution had one more Sydney Autumn Carnival run after his Galaxy win for a sixth to Chautauqua in the Group 1 $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 1 while Redzel was rewarded for his consistency with a win in the Group 3 $150,000 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 15.

Early Doomben 10,000 betting at Ladbrokes.com.au still has Russian Revolution as the $3.20 favourite with Redzel also in contention at $7.

In between the Snowden pair in the market order is last year’s winner Music Magnate at $6.50 while the five times Group 1 placegetter Fell Swoop is marked at $8.50.