Redzel climbs Everest again

TOP jockey Kerrin McEvoy had to stop himself from thinking The Everest (1200m) was over at the halfway point, as Redzel took the $14 million sprint for the second time at a sodden Randwick in Sydney yesterday.

The last thing Randwick co-trainer Paul Snowden told McEvoy when he legged him on Redzel was, ‘‘just hang on to him’’. At the 600m mark those words were ringing in the champion jockey’s ears.

‘‘I had a stranglehold on him at the 600m. I had to stop myself from thinking how good is this,’’ McEvoy said.

‘‘It was unbelievable how well he was going. I knew – but I had to ride my race. He just loved that ground and he is so much better on it.’’

Redzel had the perfect preparation 12 months ago. This time wasn’t as smooth, he missed the The Shorts after being cast in his box in the morning, and faded to finish fifth in the Premiere Stakes.

‘‘A lot of people wrote him off, but he was just so fresh after that four weeks off,’’ Snowden said. ‘‘He has been back to his old self and it showed that out there.’’

There was the similarities to a year ago as Redzel dictated terms and controlled The Everest to take the $6 million winner’s cheque, and stay the only winner of the world’s richest race on turf. ‘‘I can’t believe it. To win is once I thought we were lucky, but to win it again it is unbelievable,’’ co-trainer Peter Snowden added. ‘‘Kerrin came up with a masterful ride. He judged the pace perfectly and gave himself every chance to finish off hard and that last part was a thrill, it was special.’’

Trapeze Artist made a surge in the straight to get within 11⁄4 lengths, with Osborne Bulls finishing third, 11⁄2 lengths away.

‘‘We just got beaten by a superior wet tracker,’’ Trapeze Artist’s trainer Gerald Ryan said.