Redzel reaches racing’s new peak
Agony and ecstasy as connections collect $5.8m win
THE Everest is life changing — it could even be lifesaving.
Redzel’s syndicate of 30 owners were $5.8 million wealthier after their sprinter won the world’s richest turf race but for one of their group, Peter Piras, this wasn’t about the money.
“I’ve had to battle leukaemia, kidney disease, other complications,’’ Piras said.
“Even today, before this race, I was in so much pain — I’m not in any pain now. Thank you Doctor Redzel!”
Redzel (pictured, with jockey Kerrin McEvoy), trained by the father-and-son team of Peter and Paul Snowden, won the $10 million The TAB Everest (1200m) before more than 33,512 race fans at Royal Randwick yesterday, the biggest crowd at the track this season.
The inaugural The Everest lived up to the hype and then some. From the moment the gates opened to a huge roar from the Randwick crowd, the atmosphere was electric as the best sprinters in Australian racing made their dash for cash. Redzel gave his rivals few excuses. He went forward and settled outside the leader Houtzen in a fast-run race — the 1200m was run in 1m 8.36s — and kept going, holding on for a famous win to lay claim as the unofficial world champion sprinter.
The Snowdens have won so many of the nation’s biggest races, including two Golden Slippers, but The Everest took both men to a different place in racing’s stratosphere.
“This is the best by far, our best result,’’ Peter Snowden said. “Our first Golden Slipper was exceptional, I didn’t think I’d ever get that feeling again but today is well past it.”
Snowden embraced his son and understandably both men were reduced to tears.
“I can’t even talk,’’ Paul Snowden said. “It’s a massive thing for the stable.’’
Redzel ($8.50) forged to the front soon after turning for home, dashing two lengths clear and holding off favourite Vega Magic ($4.80) to win by a length, with Brave Smash ($19) a short neck away third.
Chautauqua ($6) charged home late to finish fourth, while Golden Slipper-winner She Will Reign ran 11th, beating only Fell Swoop to the line.
Redzel’s win was his fifth in succession and took his career earnings to nearly $7.2 million — an incredible return on the $120,000 Triple Crown syndicators Michael and Chris Ward paid to secure the horse at the 2014 Magic Millions sales.
The brothers then syndicated Redzel to a group of everyday Australians, including police officers, teachers, a doctor, taxi driver, concreter, electrician, pharmacist, a former NSW Sheffield Shield-winning coach, and a security guard.
“This is such a result for the owners,’’ Snowden said. “They are a terrific bunch of guys.”
Ward said he was on cloud nine. “I don’t think I will come down until next year’s Everest,’’ he said. “When the race was announced back in February, I spoke with Chris and we wanted to be a part of it but we weren’t sure if Redzel could get there.
“But he has improved so much over the last few months, Peter and Paul set him for this race, it is well documented they are grand final-winning trainers and it was a great ride by Kerrin McEvoy.’’
McEvoy described the win as “thrilling”. “What a race to win, it is so exciting,” he said.
“My wife, Cathy, is here and hopefully my kids are yelling at the TV screen at home. The race couldn’t have worked out any better in the run, we had a dream run outside of the leader. I am over the moon.”
Redzel’s win also proved a masterstroke for slot-holder James Harron.
“When we realised we didn’t have a sprinter for The Everest, we started looking closely at the other runners and we kept coming back to Redzel,” he said.
“Peter and Paul Snowden have had this horse in such good form and we felt he would be very hard to beat.”
The final word to Piras: “Words can’t describe how much this horse means to me. I’m lucky to be here today — but I just knew Redzel could do it.’’