Redford after golden ticket into Stradbroke

By Glenn Davis 

Trainer Stuart Kendrick hopes to reap the rewards of Redford’s summer campaign in next year’s Queensland Racing Carnival when the promising sprinter heads to The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

Redford - a James Orman mount – will win a golden ticket into next year’s $3 million Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap if successful in the 1400 metre Weight for Age feature.

The winner of The Gateway is exempt from a ballot for the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June next year.

Winning connections of The Gateway will again have the option to run their own horse or negotiate to designate their slot to one of the horses nominated, and in the top 40 order of entry, for the Stradbroke.

“The Gateway is a good race in itself, but it’s an added bonus to win and get into the Stradbroke,” Kendrick said.

“It’s a very winnable race for Redford if you take out Tony Gollan’s Transatlantic which was very impressive winning last time.”

Redford started his career with trainer Annabel Neasham and won his first two starts at Bathurst and Orange before finding his way into Kendrick’s Sunshine Coast stables.

After winning on debut for Kendrick in a Benchmark race at the Sunshine Coast in September, Redford blotted his copybook when fourth in a 1400 metre Benchmark race at Eagle Farm later that month.

However, he was back to his best form winning a 1615 metre Benchmark race at Doomben on October 5 prior to his latest effort when second to Kris Lees’ imported sprinter Inver Park in a 1400 metre Class 6 Plate at the Sunshine Coast on November 16.

“It was a heavy track last start and hopefully we’ll get a dry track this week,” Kendrick said.

“He ran well in the wet last time but he’s got a good turn of foot so we’d prefer a good track.”

A $1 million buy as a yearling, Redford has always shown he has a bright future.

“He was immature early days but he’s been going good ever since we’ve had him in the stable,” Kendrick said.

“He’s been easy to deal with around the stables and Saturday will tell us a lot more about him.

“He’s a Magic Millions horse so while he’s going well, we’ll aim for the Magic Millions and a race like the Magic Millions Cup.

“If not, there’s a couple of nice races for him at the Gold Coast the week before.”