Watch on Snowden duo
BOOKIES are bracing for another Team Snowden winter coup after Russian Revolution and Redzel drew perfectly for the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 on Saturday.
Peter Snowden produced Epaulette to a scintillating 10,000 win in 2013 off a 28day break and this year he and co-trainer, his son Paul, have Russian Revolution off a 42-day respite over the reduced trip of 1200m.
Redzel has had 28 days since churning through the Randwick mud to win the Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) on April 15.
The heavy Doomben track should improve markedly through until Saturday, when more rain is predicted, but neither of the Snowden runners will be burdened by a wet track.
Punters reacted immediately after the draw, with Russian Trainer M. Dale C. Waller G. Moore G. Portelli B. Baker P. & P. Snowden C. Waller E. & J Rayner M. Nolan B. Cavanough D. Weir P. & P. Snowden D. & B. Hayes & T. Dabernig D. Weir B. Smith Revolution (barrier five) into $3.20 favourite and Redzel (three) firming from $9 to $7.50.
Double-digit draws Jockey D. Browne L. Cassidy B. Avdulla R. Fradd J. Lloyd J. Byrne O. Bosson J. Parkes R. Stewart J. Orman B. Rawiller K. McEvoy R. Bayliss Michael Cahill J. Parr have proved big obstacles to overcome in both the major Doomben sprints in modern times.
The last 10,000 winner to jump from wider than nine was Mr Innocent (12) back in 2000 – but that was from the 1350m start.
Effectively, this year’s 10,000 replaces the BTC Cup, a race where you have to go back to Spark Of Life (13) in 2005 to find the last horse to win from a wide draw.
As a result, Fell Swoop (14) was the big drifter yesterday, blowing from $6 to $8.
“Redzel was more popular than the stablemate after the draw but Russian Revolution had been the best backed in our all-in market, where we opened $12 and I’m tipping they are the ones the punters will keep coming for as the week goes on,” UBET’s Gerard Daffy said.
“The other two that money have come for since the draw are Music Magnate and Japonisme, whereas Fell Swoop is friendless.”
Fresh off the plane from a whirlwind Kentucky Derby tour, Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker was thrilled to learn of barrier seven for his runner, Music Magnate.
“They tell me he’s been doing everything right since I’ve been away,” Baker said of Music Magnate, who is bidding to join Falvelon and Apache Cat as back-to-back winners of the race this century.
“Jeff (Lloyd) has been riding him in all of his work and all of the reports have been very good.
“From that draw, we should be able to slot in just behind the speed and get the right run.”