Co-trainer Peter Snowden is content that last year’s winner Redzel will carry the underdog tag into the 2018 $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Redzel, above, will go into The Everest 2018 with the underdog tag. Photo by Steve Hart.

Redzel, above, will go into The Everest 2018 with the underdog tag. Photo by Steve Hart.

Redzel won the inaugural running of The Everest twelve months ago for slot holder James Harron but will run for Yulong Investments this year.

In early betting for The Everest, Redzel had been installed as the favourite but his price has drifted out to $8 at Ladbrokes.com.au following a setback and a last start fifth to Santa Ana Lane in the Group 2 $500,000 Santos Coffee Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 29.

As a result the pressure is off Redzel to score back to back wins in the world’s richest race on turf and Peter Snowden is happy to go in as the underdog.

“That’s great, I love it,’’ Peter Snowden told Racing New South Wales News Desk.

Peter Snowden, who trains in partnership with his son Paul, said that Redzel has completely recovered from his muscle soreness that saw him scratched from the Group 2 $200,000 Bowermans Office Furniture Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 15.

“The setback wasn’t planned, I was disappointed the way it happened and it might have been a blessing. I couldn’t be happier with him at the moment,” Peter Snowden said.

“He looks so much better, he has tightened right up and his coat has come good. It’s amazing how much he has improved from the run.”

“It was probably only natural he was above himself, a month between runs he normally has a barrier trial in between and he didn’t have that.’

“I was critical on the day but it was no fault of Kerrin’s, he said the horse pulled all the way to the barriers and he never does that. Since that race I’ve been impressed with how he’s tightened up.’’

“It’s a very strong race. The barrier draw is going to be so crucial.’’

The barrier draw for the $13 million sprint will be conducted tonight (Tuesday) on the foreshores of Circular Quay in Sydney with The Everest trophy, barrier numbers and jockey silk colours beamed on to the Opera House sails.

Big race jockey Kerrin McEvoy rode Redzel to victory in the 2017 The Everest and will be aboard the Triple Crown Syndications’ sprinter again this year.

The final twelve runners for The Everest 2018

# Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Hcp Rating
1 11x2124x15 REDZEL G 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 1 58.5kg 118
2 110x45291x U S NAVY FLAG (USA) H 4 Aidan O’Brien 2 58kg 117
3 x6x0311x51 SANTA ANA LANE G 6 Anthony Freedman 3 58.5kg 116
4 x74232x172 LE ROMAIN G 6 Kris Lees 4= 58.5kg 115
5 0x14311x34 TRAPEZE ARTIST H 4 Gerald Ryan 4= 58.5kg 115
6 11257x8x14 VEGA MAGIC G 6 David & B Hayes & T Dabernig 4= 58.5kg 115
7 x112x139x3 IN HER TIME M 6 Kris Lees 7= 56.5kg 114
8 21x81x1x32 SHOALS M 4 Anthony Freedman 7= 56.5kg 114
9 x2411x20x1 VIDDORA M 6 Lloyd Kennewell 7= 56.5kg 114
10 531270×332 BRAVE SMASH (JPN) H 6 Darren Weir 10 58.5kg 112
11 1x1230x214 HOME OF THE BRAVE (IRE) G 7 James Cummings 11 58.5kg 111
12 11×123 GRAFF C 3 Kris Lees 12 53kg 94

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.