Locally-owned sprinter Redzel has been installed joint favourite of The Everest after drawing perfectly for the $13 million feature on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Peter and Paul Snowden trained galloper, which is part owned by Figtree’s Patricia Di Marco, Wollongong’s Peter Piras and Balgownie’s Tony Kocovski, drew barrier one for the marquee 1200m sprint at Randwick.
Redzel surged to victory in the same event twelve months ago and bookmakers now believe the son of Snitzel is a leading chance to repeat the effort, following a controversial barrier draw at the Opera House.
The TAB promoted Redzel to a $7 equal favourite alongside Gerald Ryan’s Trapeze Artist and the David Hayes, Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig trained Vega Magic.
Redzel's jockey Kerrin McEvoy was happy with the draw.
“I'd rather one than 12," he told Fairfax Media.
"It's the shortest way home. He worked well [on Tuesday] morning and the rain around certainly works in his favour.
“When the gates open, we'll just have to see what happens to our outside, but we definitely have the speed to take up a forward position if not lead."
Vega Magic drew barrier seven while Trapeze Artist will jump one closer to the fence.
Shoals will jump from barrier two while Aidan O'Brien's US Navy Flag (barrier three) and Brave Smash (barrier four) both fared favourably. Late replacement Osborne Bulls, which earned a spot after Godolphin stablemate Home Of The Brave was scratched on Tuesday morning, landed gate five.
The in-form Santa Ana Lane will jump from gate nine as Graff (barrier 10), Le Romain (11) and Viddora (12) all drew wide.
The draw was conducted at Racing NSW offices early on Tuesday before later being revealed at the Opera House.
- RAIN DANCE
Predicted rain during the week could see Gwenda Markwell back-up star mare Mandylion in the group 3 Craven Plate (2000m) on Everest day. The four year old has been in sensational form this preparation and has never missed a placing in six starts.
Her latest effort was a gutsy runner-up finish behind I Am Serious in the group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) last Saturday at Royal Randwick.
Markwell has since thrown in a nomination for the Craven Plate, where Mandylion sits 24th in the order of entry.
The stable confirmed plans to The Punt to give Mandylion another hit-out should the track remain affected by predicted rain this week. Mandylion has three victories and two placings from five starts on rain-affected tracks.
