Redzel summits Oz Everest again

– Redzel has recorded back-to-back victories in The Everest, Australia’s richest race, leading all the way under Kerrin McEvoy at Randwick racecourse on Saturday.

Archer won the first two Melbourne Cups in 1860 and 1861, and no result other than a repeat success for 2017 winner Redzel looked likely in the second Everest, in which the Irish raider US Navy Flag, trained by Aidan O’Brien, could manage only ninth of the 12 runners.

Sydney

Drawn in stall one on soft ground, McEvoy bagged the rail and was untroubled on the front early on in the 1200m A$13-million contest.

He was last off the bridle, and for all Trapeze Artist closed in the last 100m there was no realistic prospect of him reining in Redzel, who prevailed by a length.

The Godolphin-owned Osborne Bulls, trained by James Cummings, a replacement during the week for the same connections’ Home Of The Brave, got no luck in running and ended up storming down the stands’ rail under Tommy Berry to be third.

McEvoy said: “It’s such an electric feeling. I was happy there was a bit of rain around. It was similar to last year, really.

James Bester, Coolmore’s bloodstock adviser in Australia, said of US Navy Flag: “He missed the break and it was always going to be difficult from there. He tried hard, but the ground wasn’t to his liking and finished a very tired horse.” –