UNDER a leaden sky at Randwick and on heavy ground, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Redzel repeated his Everest win of 12 months earlier, supercharging his earnings to over A$15 million off the back of Saturday’s $6 million winner’s cheque.

“I can’t believe it. To win once, I thought we were lucky, but to win it again it is unbelievable,” said Peter Snowden.

“I knew we had a bit of work to do with the horse from his last start but I was confident he could make the improvement. Kerrin (McEvoy) had a masterful ride. He judged the pace perfectly and gave himself every chance to finish off hard and that last part was a thrill, it was special.”

Redzel, a six-year-old Snitzel gelding, was judged an $8.50 chance on ground that worked against half the field, judging by the jockeys’ post-race comments. “He didn’t enjoy the ground,” said an ‘effusive’ Ryan Moore on U S Navy Flag’s ninth placing.

Bounced to the lead by McEvoy, Redzel controlled the race leaving the rest to argue over the placings. Winning by nearly a length and half, another Snitzel, Trapeze Artist was second just ahead of the Street Cry gelding Osbourne Bulls who Tommy Berry steered to the outside rail in search of better conditions on straightening up, such was the effect of the rain leading up to Sydney’s spring highlight.

“This is euphoria at its best. It is such an electric feeling,” said Kerrin McEvoy. “I was really happy there was a bit of rain around and he did the rest. It is a huge buzz to win it again, unbelievable.

“That’s what this horse is able to do. He loved the ground and is such a little warrior. He is a joy to be a part of. He is quite reserved other than race day. He saves himself and all he wants to do is gallop and gallop hard.”

Having shrugged off the effects of a poorly thought out response to the Opera House barrier draw fiasco that saw a petition of over 300,000 signatures submitted to State Parliament, and despite the weather, the Everest’s on-course atmosphere was ‘on-point’ as over 40,000 turned up to Randwick.

“Ticket sales were consistently above where they were last year,” said Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys with 33,000 having attended in 2017.

“I’m just very thrilled we again attracted the under-35 audience. This race is for the new generation to make their own and they’re doing that.”