Defending champion Redzel is revving up his preparation heading towards a third victory in the $14m The Everest (1200m) with an all the way win in a Rosehill barrier trial this morning.
Redzel, above winning the 2018 Everest, scored an all the way win in a 1000m Rosehill barrier trial for Kerrin McEvoy. Photo by Steve Hart.
Redzel was the winner of the first two runnings of The Everest in 2017 and 2018 and a third win at Randwick on October 19 is certainly not out of the question on the way he covered the 1000m trial on the Rosehill course proper.
Dual Everest winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy let Redzel stride to a clear early lead and held the front spot as he cruised to the line ahead of the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip who also caught the eye with an impressive trial.
McEvoy said that Redzel felt great with the blinkers on but is still yet to lock in the Everest mount on the Peter and Paul Snowden trained speedster but will ride him first up in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on September 7.
“Locked in for his first up run. We are going to see how he goes first up and then we will make a call then obviously as to what we do regarding The Everest,” McEvoy said.
“We have to give the horse a chance to get back and show his best.”
Redzel has failed to find the winner’s stall from five starts since winning the 2018 The Everest and was disappointing when second as the odds on favourite in the Group 2 $200,000 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm at the beginning of the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.
Redzel was sent for spell then and McEvoy said that seven year old felt good in his second trial this preparation.
“Felt good. He had a nice hit out this morning. Had his blinkers on and Peter and Paul wanted to begin sharp and get out and get rolling and have a nice amount of work there throughout his trial which he was able to do,” McEvoy said.
“It was important to tick that box with his second trial this morning.”
“He livened up underneath me once I asked him to pick up and had a good solid hit out.’
“So I was pleased with how he moved. His focus was there and he still showed his good willing attitude.”
“There was a nice pass mark there this morning.”
Redzel will race in The Everest slot owned by Yulong Investments and is marked at $14 with Ladbrokes.com.au to claim his third win in The Everest while five times Group 1 winner Santa Ana Lane is the $5 favourite.
Slots for the 2019 The Everest that have been allocated are Chris Waller Racing – Enticing Star, The Star – Arcadia Queen, Yulong Investments – Redzel, Max Whitby – Sunlight, TAB – Santa Ana Lane, Aquis – Pierata, Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing – Classique Legend and Inglis – In Her Time.
Pre-post betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Pierata, $9 Sunlight, $10 Classique Legend, $12 Arcadia Queen, Alizee, $13 In Her Time, Nature Strip, $14 Enticing Star, Redzel, $17 Graff, $21 Yes Yes Yes, $26 Zoustyle, $31 Hot King Prawn, Home Of The Brave, Mr Stunning, $41 or better the rest.
