Yulong Investments have teamed up with Redzel again to fill their slot in 2019 as the Peter and Paul Snowden trained sprinter chases a third straight win in the $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19.
Redzel claimed the inaugural running of The Everest for James Harron Bloodstock’s slot in 2017 and then last year the Triple Crown Syndicated speedster led all of the way for Yulong Investments to claim back to back victories in the 1200m sprint.
“We won the race with Redzel last year and Mr Zhang has always had him near the top of his list,” Yulong chief operating officer Sam Fairgray said.
“He has proven himself the best sprinter in the Everest for the past two years and you know what you are getting.”
“He can go on wet and dry ground, and Mr Zhang wanted to stick with him.
“He’s trained by the Snowdens, who are brilliant at getting horses to peak on the big day.”
Triple Crown’s Chris Ward is delighted to team up again with Yulong Investments and is hoping for a similar result this year.
“It is a very special race to our owners, and us obviously, and to have a spot in it again is fantastic,” Ward said.
“This race has been a juggernaut in the past two years and we have been lucky to be a big part of it with Redzel.
“You always dream of winning a group 1, and when you do it something very special.
“But the Everest is 10 times as good as winning a group 1 because of everything that’s with it. It is just a massive event and it is great to be part of it again.”
Kerrin McEvoy has been Redzel’s regular partner for the last two years, which includes his two wins in The Everest, and Ward is hoping that the high profile jockey will stick with the gelding again this year.
“We would hope that Kerrin will be part of the team again,” Ward said.
“He has been a part of this from the start.”
Several other slots for The Everest have also been filled with Arcadia Queen to race for The Star, Sunlight to run for Max Whitby, Santa Ana Lane signed up by TAB, Pierata to team up with Aquis, Classique Legend for Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing and In Her Time for Inglis.
Pre-post betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au has Redzel marked at $11 while the Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane is the current $5.50 favourite ahead of Osborne Bulls at $7 and Arcadia Queen and Pierata at $8.
Early betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5.50 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Arcadia Queen, Pierata, $9 Sunlight, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Redzel, $12 Nature Strip, $13 Alizee, Blue Point, In Her Time, $15 Brutal, $17 Graff, $21 Enticing Star, Hot King Prawn, Zoustyle, $26 Advertise, The Bostonian, $34 Vega Magic, Zousain, $41 Eduardo, Home Of The Brave, $51 or better the rest.