Redzel on track for Doomben repeat
CO-TRAINER Paul Snowden has seen it all before and says Redzel is tracking perfectly for his defence of the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
The dual Group 1 winner was beaten by English in a barrier at Randwick yesterday when regular rider Kerrin McEvoy kept Redzel under a relatively tight rein.
English was driven to the line from back in the pack in the 1050m heat to confirm her place in the Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in Brisbane on Saturday week.
“It was only a blowout, a half a mile fitness gallop. Kerrin kept a hold of him,” Snowden said.
“There’s no need to empty a horse like him out in a trial.
“When he has to do it, he does it.”
Redzel returns from a freshen-up for the $700,000 weight-for-age feature following a second to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 7.
“Everything’s the same and hopefully he’ll turn up on race day,” Snowden said.
Snowden, who trains with his father Peter, said the two were far from discouraged after Redzel finished threequarters of a length off Trapeze Artist.
“There are a couple of little things that soften you up in any race you’re in and one swooping late just got him in the shadows,” he said.
“We’re not disappointed with the horse by any means. He keeps buttering up with the best we’ve got.”
Redzel, Impending, English and In Her Time head a near-record 34 nominations for the Doomben 10,000. Leading Victorian trainer Darren Weir has the largest number of overall nominations with seven.
Gold Coast sprinter Houtzen heads Queensland’s entries with Most Important and Monsieur Gustave.
The Doomben Cup has 36 nominations, also a high for recent years, with Group 1 star Gailo Chop the leading contender.