The Everest, Randwick
Race Summary:
Redzel (Snitzel) has claimed back-to-back victories in the world's richest turf race, The TAB Everest, with a strong front-running victory on the heavy track at Randwick.
Redzel took his career prizemoney beyond $14 million, beating Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) by 1.3L, with Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) rattling down the outside rail for third.
Kerrin McEvoy sent the 6-year-old on the pace from the inside barrier and always looked the winner from there. With U S Navy Flag (USA) (War Front {USA}) missing the start, Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}) sat outside the early pace, with Trapeze Artist in the stalking position.
Vega Magic (Lope de Vega {Ire}) over-raced and sat three deep on the pace, while the well-backed Shoals (Fastnet Rock), dropped in along the rail, but never really looked like she was handling the ground.
As the field turned for home, Redzel showed the turn of foot to get the decisive break, Trapeze Artist was into the clear and chasing, but took time to hit his peak, and while he was closing on the line, never looked a serious threat.
He did, however, complete a quinella for Australia's leading sire Snitzel.
Tommy Berry's decision to pull Osborne Bulls to the very outside rail proved a successful one as the outsider of the field was able to finish third as Godolphin's first runner in the race.
Redzel's connections, including co-trainer Peter and Paul Snowden, suggested post-race he would look to make it three straight victories in this race next year.
Pedigree notes:
Redzel was bought for $120,000 by Triple Crown Syndications at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale having been sold for $45,000 as a weanling 12 months earlier.
It is no surprise that he has become such a brilliant sprinter when you look at his pedigree. He is out of the G3 winning mare Millrich (Rubiton {Aus}) who was also placed in the Golden Slipper and several other stakes races. Black-type winners Dilly Dally, Li Lo Lill and Linga Longa Lucy also feature on the pedigree page.
Redzel's older half brother Danerich was a Group winning sprinter who has sired eight stakes winners in his own right.
Group 1 Caulfield Guineas, Caulfield
Race Summary:
An electrifying performance from The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) stamped him as not only as a star of the track, but of the future stallions ranks.
He sat wide with no cover before rider James McDonald cut him loose and the 3-year-old left his opposition for dead.
Trained by Chris Waller, The Autumn Sun has now won three times at the elite level after success in last season’s G1 JJ Atkins S., and in the G1 Golden Rose S., and, as McDonald said, the world is the colt’s oyster.
Pedigree Notes :
The Autumn Sun is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Azmiyna (Ire), a half-sister to European Champion and four-time Group 1 winner Azamour (IRE).
The family also boasts the presence of the G1 Prix Ganay winner Astarabad (USA) (Alleged {USA}).
The Autumn was purchased out of Arrowfield’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale consignment for $1.3 million and was signed for by Waller and Guy Mulcaster.
Group 1 Caulfield S., Caulfield
Race Summary:
The widely-travelled Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {IRE}) was given a dream trip in behind the leader and he answered every call of rider Pat Cosgrave in the straight.
They were in front 200 metres from home and dug deep to see off the challenge of Blair House (IRE) (Pivotal {GB}) for a Godolphin quinella.
The Saeed Bin Suroor-trained Benbatl has now won Group 1 events in three different countries having previously triumphed at the highest level in Dubai and Germany.
Pedigree Notes :
Benbatl’s dam Nahrain (GB) (Selkirk {USA}) enjoyed an outstanding career with Group 1 wins in the Prix de l’Opera and the G1 Flower Bowl S.
She is out of the G2 Ribblesdale S., winner Bahr (IRE) (Generous {IRE}), who has also produced the multiple black type winner Baharah (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}).
It is a family that has starred in Australia through the G1 Toorak H., winner He’s Our Rokkii (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}).
Group 1 Thousand Guineas, Caulfield
Amphitrite (Sebring) has come such a long way in a short time, but nothing fazes her and she continued her winning ways at Caulfield.
From the widest gate, jockey Craig Williams rode to the instructions of trainer Darren Weir and let the filly settle at the back of the field.
Once he angled her wide at the top of the straight, she let down powerfully to sweep past her rivals and take the thick end of the stake.
Pedigree Notes :
Amphitrite can now be classed as a bargain buy after she was secured by Cameron Bennett’s Flying Start syndication company for $50,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Her mother Ocean Dream (Redoute’s Choice) was a two-time winner and she is a half-sister to the G1 Toorak H., winner Marble Halls (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}).
Group 1 Toorak Handicap, Caulfield
Race Summary:
Land of Plenty (Stratum) has landed his first Group 1 victory, charging home from the rear of the field to grab the Aqius Toorak Hcp at Caulfield.
Land of Plenty overcame the widest barrier thanks to an excellent ride from Damian Lane, who sat him deep with cover and bought him with a strong finish to claim the jockey's 13th Group 1 winner.
Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}), who the winner tracked throughout the run, showed plenty of fight under the top weight to finish second, 1.25l adrift, with Siege of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) half a length back in third.
The race was set up by the backmarkers, thanks to a slick pace set by Al Passem (Al Maher) and Hellova Street (Helike {USA}). Cliff's Edge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) seized the front at the 300m mark, but it was immediately apparent that his stablemate Land of Plenty had all the momentum.
It was the 5-year-old's sixth victory at his 24th start and his third at stakes-level.
Pedigree notes:
Land of Plenty was bred by the Esplin family and was sold at the 2015 Easter Sales for $80,000. He was then sold again at the Chairman's Sale in 2017 for just $32,500.
He is the eighth foal from the imported mare Dancing (GB) (Spectrum {Ire}) who was a G2 winner. She has produced one other black-type winner, Macduff (Street Cy {Ire}), who raced in South Africa.
Dancing's sister Miss Vita produced the G1 winner Zavite, while Suave Dancer and Lady Baiul also feature on the pedigree page.
Dancing has an unraced 2yo colt by Von Costa De Hero, a yearling filly by Office Bearer and is due to foal to Charge Forward this spring.
