Redzel wins richest race on turf

– Redzel beat Vega Magic to win the first-ever running of The Everest, the world’s richest race on turf, worth A$10 million (R105 million), at Randwick on Saturday.

Redzel, trained by father-andson team Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy for owners James Harron Bloodstock, led from the start with Houtzen, before moving clear in the straight to win the big race.

The favourite Vega Magic (A$4.80 a Win) flashed home for second, with Brave Smash rounding out the Trifecta.

Redzel, starting as fourth favourite at A$7.50 for a Win in the 12-horse field, followed up a win in his previous start in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick on 2 September.

“Couldn’t have worked out any better in the run. Woohoo! We had a dream run outside the leader. I am over the moon,” McEvoy said to the Seven Network after the race.

“The Snowdens had a plan to give him a month between runs and they had him spot on. Full credit to them.

“The horse has performed unbelievably today.”

An emotional Paul Snowden said he was overjoyed to win with his father.

“I can’t talk. I haven’t seen the old man, I don’t even know where he is.

“It is a massive thing for the stable and just so relieved,” he said.

“Look, I could stand here in front of you all week and say black and blue how good he was going.

“This is the third time we have done it.

“This was his best to come and everyone wrote him off .”

Peter Snowden had won Golden Slippers and multiple Group 1s as a trainer, but said his achievement with Redzel surpassed them all.

“It is the best by far. The first Golden Slipper was exceptional,” he said.

“I never thought I would get that feeling again. Today I have gone well past it.”

Connections of the 12 runners in the race paid an entry fee of $600,000 apiece to get into the field.

It carried prize money of $5.8 million for the winner, and $1.425 million for the runner-up. – ABC News