DARLEY CLASSIC (GROUP 1)

JUST as his co-trainer Peter Snowden had forecast a month ago, the inaugural Everest winner Redzel would be freshened for the A$1 million Darley Classic at Flemington and prove hard to beat.

Indeed he was, holding the outside rail for the duration of the straight-six Group 1 to lead all the way and improve his record to six straight wins and 11 overall from 21 starts.

Closing fast was February’s Lightning Stakes winner Terravista but the advantage built by the Snitzel gelding proved too great for the Captain Rio challenger, finishing three-quarters of a length in arrears as the Lonhro entire Impending took third.

Fourth was the three-time TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua who has been crying out for a damp racing surface.

“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,” said Kerrin McEvoy of Redzel. “He’s the best older sprinter I’ve ridden.”

ASCOT

In past years, Redzel would be a certainity to contest Royal Ascot but those chances look scuppered with the owners indicating that another crack at The Everest was their preferred option following news that the race will increase prize money by $3 million, boosting the prize pool to $13 million for 2018.

“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,” summed up Peter Snowden. “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.”

The 10th live foal out of the Rubiton mare Millrich, herself a Golden Slipper placegetter, Redzel was a $120,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase by Chris and Michael Ward of Triple Crown Syndications.