Redzel dominates Darley Classic

Redzel dominates Darley Classic

Snitzel’s son Redzel confirmed his status as Australia’s No. 1 sprinter with a dominant display of championship speed in Saturday’s $1 million, 1200-metre VRC Darley Classic, his second Group 1 victory.

And he made it look easy, jumping well, taking up the lead on the outside rail of the famous straight six course and staying there to score in 1:08.74 by 0.75 length from Terravista and Impending, ahead of Chautauqua, Clearly Innocent and Rock Magic. 

Watch Redzel win the VRC Darley Classic G1.

Unbeaten in his four starts this season, and brilliant winner of The Everest last month, Redzel has won 11 of his 21 starts and $7.7 million for the large group of owners managed by Chris & Michael Ward of Triple Crown Syndications.

Peter Snowden, who prepares the 5YO gelding with his son Paul, gave a succinct description of Redzel’s win and the key to his success. 

“Just jumped, led, sustained speed and just finished it right off. I don’t think he was ever headed. It was a dominant win again.

“This horse is easy to train. He does everything that we ask. What we found out now is to just space out his runs, and give him an easy time between runs and he comes back to life again. He is such an easy horse to train.”

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy agrees about Redzel’s professionalism. “He’s so reliable, you know he’s going to turn up and have a show. He’s just keeps achieving with what’s put in front him.

“He’s the best older sprinter I’ve ridden.”

Redzel’s major 2018 target will again be The Everest, with the race’s increased prizemoney of $13 million enough to keep him in Australia and forego a trip to Royal Ascot.

Snitzel is the only stallion represented by top 10 performers in every age category of the current Australian Timeform rankings compiled by Racing & Sports. 

Redzel (with a figure of 125) holds the highest rating among Snitzel’s tribe, 3YO colts Menari (122p) & Trapeze Artist (122), 4YO Russian Revolution (120), 3YO Summer Passage (116) and 2YO Bondi (112).

Redzel’s work this Spring has lifted Snitzel’s prizemoney to $12,379,198, almost exactly $4 million ahead of High Chaparral who has a similar margin on Street Cry and Fastnet Rock, with Not A Single Doubt fifth on $4.7 million.

Across the Tasman, a lower-profile meeting at Te Rapa supplied a significant milestone for Snitzel when his 5YO daughter Untamed Diamond  took out the $50,000 Waikato Sprint 1200m LR. She is Snitzel’s 75th stakeswinner and completed the 15th same-day stakes double on his record.

Watch Untamed Diamond win the Waikato Sprint LR.

Untamed Diamond, out of dual stakeswinner Made Of Diamonds (by Made Of Gold), was bred and sold by Arrowfield for $30,000 to trainer Richard Collett at the 2014 Inglis Classic Sale. She is the third stakes-winning Arrowfield graduate from that particular sale, after Group winners Spill The Beans and Odyssey Moon, both also by Snitzel.