Redzel, the Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, raced home for a history making win in the inaugural running of the world’s richest turf race, the $10 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick.
Perfectly ridden by one of the world’s best riders Kerrin McEvoy, Redzel sat on the speed for much of the race before bursting clear about a furlong from home.
It was a triumph for the Sydney based syndication company Triple Crown Syndications, the successful bloodstock operation of brothers Chris and Michael Ward. Redzel was syndicated by the brothers with 17 part owners involved.
“There’s people involved from all walks of life from all states of Australia,” Chris Ward said. “We’ve got a concreter, doctor, taxi driver, even an ex-NSW cricket coach. They are all in there – all involved and really enjoying this moment.”
The brothers spoke of the moment they put down $120,000 to buy Redzel from Marquee Stud at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“There’s a number of things we look for in a horse and he had them I guess,” Michael Ward said. “Great conformation, we liked the way he moved and he had a great temperament.”
“You saw that come into play today – the way he holds himself in the pre-parade ring. He doesn’t waste any energy.”
“He also showed it in the race – he came right back under Kerrin McEvoy and it was a dominant win,” Ward added.
A proven Group One winner who was in career best form, Redzel was recruited to the $10 million race by slot holder James Harron – the man behind the Everest winner’s stablemate, Golden Slipper winner and fellow Gold Coast purchase Capitalist.
Redzel was prepared to perfection by the father-son training combination of Peter and Paul Snowden. They had the gelding spot on despite it being a month between runs.”I can’t talk,” a beaming Paul Snowden said. “I haven’t even seen the old man yet. I don’t even know where he is but it’s a massive thing for the stable. Just so relieved.”
“I could stand here all week and say black and blue how well he was going and all this plays into our hands. This is the third time we’ve done it (kept Redzel fresh), this was the best and everyone wrote him off at his first two runs back and thought with a month between (runs) he’s a bit of a risk but it was definitely not the case.”
“We’ve got a very special bond, me and dad, I don’t think anyone has what we’ve got,” Paul Snowden added.
As for Paul’s father Peter – despite having prepared many Group One winners, particularly when training for Sheikh Mohammed, today’s victory provided the horseman with his biggest thrill.
“It’s a great result,” Snowden Snr said. “They’re a terrific bunch of guys.”
“There’s a lot of stories behind all the owners, there’s a couple of sad ones as well, but if they’re feeling anything like me they’ll be better 10 times over,” he added.
The win of Redzel continued the remarkable run of champion South Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy – the recent SA Hall of Fame inductee was not surprisingly over the moon.”He is a little star,” McEvoy said. “I am so privileged to be riding these horses for Peter and Paul Snowden. They are master horsemen and a job well done to them.”
“They have been so patient with this fella early in his career. It is paying dividends now. The Snowden’s had a plan to give him a month between runs and then they had him spot on. Full credit to them. The horse has performed unbelievably today.”
“It couldn’t have worked out any better in the run, we had a dream run outside of the leader. I am over the moon,” McEvoy added.
A son of fellow Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase Snitzel, Redzel was offered at the 2013 National Weanling Sale before eventually selling to Triple Crown at the following’s January auction for $120,000.
As it stands with his 10 wins from just 20 starts, Redzel has earned around $7.2 million.
By Arrowfield Stud’s leading sire Snitzel, Redzel is from the former crack juvenile and good producer Millrich – a daughter of Cox Plate winner Rubiton.
A winner of the Group Three Sweet Embrace Stakes and placegetter in a Golden Slipper, Millrich has also produced the group winning sire Danerich among seven winners.
Winner: Redzel
Breeding: Snitzel-Millrich (Rubiton)
Race: ATC The Everest (1200m)
Sold for: $120,000
Sale: 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Vendor: Marquee Stud
Buyer: Triple Crown Syndications
Earnings: $7,195,250
Owner(s): Triple Crown Synd (Mgr: C H Ward), Walfam No 2 (Mgr: B Walsh), Ten Players (Mgr: S J Fletcher), J N Allen, P Piras, V P Chau, T W Cheng, M R Waddington, Mrs A Gibson, Dr A Kuok, J W Medland, T Kocovski, Mrs P Di Marco, L Halloran, M E Hardwick, B D Playford, D Yates & A Savage
Slot Holder: James Harron Bloodstock
