Manikato run in play for Redzel

DUAL Everest winner Redzel is heading to Melbourne and could even be in action in Friday week’s Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.

His trainer Paul Snowden said they waited for a month after The Everest last year and won the Darley Classic at Flemington at his only spring appearance in Melbourne but this time he could appear within 13 days of winning the worlds’ richest race.

Snowden said they were looking at the $1 million Manikato Stakes this year and also the $1 million Darley Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 10 for the reigning sprinter of the year.

Redzel took his stakes earnings to $15,372,000 with his win in The Everest and now sits second in the list of the greatest prizemoney earners in Australian history, having passed Makybe Diva.

Redzel, a six-year-old gelding, has won 14 of his 28 starts.

“It was a hard win in testing conditions,” Snowden said. “I’ll nominate him for the Manikato Stakes and I’ll let him tell me whether he’s ready.”

Snowden said both races were great options. He said they were already making plans for Redzel’s attack on next year’s Everest and expected to be offered a slot shortly.

Another sprinter who will be heading to the Manikato Stakes is Mick Bell’s Jungle Edge, who ran a gallant second in the Sydney Stakes behind Pierata.

TAB fixed odds have Redzel as an equal favourite at $7.50 with Kementari and Santa Ana Lane in the Manikato Stakes.