By Glenn Davis
A perfect barrier has Redzel poised to become the nation’s highest Stakes winning sprinter in Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben 10,000.
Redzel drew barrier six and is currently the Doomben 10,000 favourite at $2.00 with UBET.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden believes Redzel is in better form now than when he won last year’s Doomben 10,000.
“I’m very happy with his draw and he’s as good if not a bit better than last year,” Snowden said.
“He only just got beaten in the T J Smith and he’s been racing in much stronger company than last year when he was still going through the grades.”
Redzel is currently seventh on the all-time prizemoney list in Australia and New Zealand behind champion mare Winx ($18.998m).
However, the son of Snitzel sits second on the nation’s list of money earners for sprinters with $8,691,750 in prizemoney, just behind current leader Chautauqua on $8.8m.
Redzel also will etch his name in Doomben 10,000 history if successful by becoming only the fifth sprinter to win the Group 1 feature in successive years since the famous race was first run in 1933.
Only four sprinters, Black Onyx (1968-69), Prince Trialia (1990-91), Falvelon (2001-02) and Apache Cat (2008-09) have won back-to-back Doomben 10,000’s.
The Doomben 10,000 was the springboard to Redzel’s greatness last year when the gelding claimed his first Group 1 win at his third attempt.
Redzel went on to claim the $10m The Everest at Randwick last October before the Group 1 Darley Classic at Flemington in November.
Redzel will be having only his fourth run this campaign and is coming off his second to Trapeze Artist in the T J Smith.
In Her Time has retained her place in 10,000 markets and is second favourite at $4.20 after drawing barrier eight.
Queensland’s best hope Houtzen drew the outside gate 14 in her first return to Doomben since winning in her debut as a two-year-old in December, 2016.
Houtzen claimed the Group 3 P J Bell at Randwick at her second start this campaign before weakening to finish sixth in the Group 2 Arrowfield on April 14.
“The wind was blowing a gale that and it was always going to be difficult that day,” Edmonds said.
“She’s come home in great order and she gets a bit of weight of horses like Redzel this time.
“She’s matured a lot and is a lot stronger and is an on-speed filly so I suggest she’ll run well,” Edmonds said.
Racing Queensland webnews May 9