Redzel winning The Everest again.

Image: Racing Photos

By Andrew Eddy

Redzel made it back-to-back wins in The Everest at Randwick on Saturday with the full impact of his dual wins in the richest turf race in the world borne out by his incredible prizemoney total.

The victory on heavy going moved Redzel to $15.37 million and into second position on the all-time prizemoney earners in this country, eclipsing the $14.52m earned by three-time Melbourne Cup winner and Cox Plate champion Makybe Diva.

Only the wonder mare Winx ($19.88m) has earned more money.

Starting at $8.50 and again ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Redzel refused to give in despite a wall of challengers and had a length-and-a-quarter margin over Trapeze Artist ($10), with a length-and-a-half to the emergency Osborne Bulls ($21), who finished on the outside fence.

Redzel had been the favourite for much of the lead-up to the $13 million race but a missed run and then a less-than-satisfactory fifth in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick last month meant the horse had his doubters.

Co-trainer Paul Snowden said the stable never lost confidence in Redzel: "A lot of people wrote him off. It's all about knowing your horse. We got it right. It's great for the staff, great for everyone."

His father Peter was left a little stunned with the horse's effort: "To do it once I thought we were very lucky but again it is just unbelievable.

"I knew we had the horse. I was confident he would make improvement. He judged the pace perfectly to give him the chance to finish off hard and the last furlong was his best.

"I can't believe that. He's a good horse in his own right. He did it tough today. He led so hats off to him. I'm so proud of him."

McEvoy said: "This is euphoria at its best. It is such an electric feeling. 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.

"Last year we had a bunny, this year there were a few scenarios going through Peter and Paul's heads and mine as to how it might unfold.

"I thought Ryan Moore's horse (US Navy Flag) might be a bit of a pest early, maybe (David) Hayes' horse (Vega Magic) with the blinkers on if he got a bit keen.

"From the one gate, that was Plan A, to control it from the front. 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.

"I want to say a big thanks to Peter and Paul obviously but also the whole Snowden clan for their hard work, it's a big team and they work long hours.

BEATEN JOCKEYS:

Ben Melham (Santa Ana Lane): "He ran well, but we were in trouble a furlong after the start, it was just too heavy for him."
Glyn Schofield (Le Romain): "He ran super, nice performance on the speed and toughed it out nicely."
Tye Angland (Trapeze Artist): "We've got to take that as a win, he went so well, it's just hard to run Redzel down on a wet track where we don't perform to our best. He gave his all, tried his heart out, (and I'm) confident we would have been closer in the finish if it was a firm track."
Damien Oliver (Vega Magic): "Too wet for him, just didn't handle the track."
Hugh Bowman (Brave Smash): "We had a nice run throughout, but all credit to the winner, he was too good for us all."
Ryan Moore (US Navy Flag): "He didn't enjoy the ground."
Corey Brown (In Her Time): "She ran well, but she never handled the track for one stride, she was under pressure from the get-go."
Tim Clark (Shoals): "She just didn't go a yard in the ground, she was dipping and diving and lost all confidence."
Joe Bowditch (Viddora): "Really disappointing, she's pulled up a little bit distressed, we'll see how she goes after this."
Brenton Avdulla (Graff): "He ran terrific, didn't have much go his way, just that track sort of bottomed him out a little bit, he's going to be a super colt next time in."
Tommy Berry (Osborne Bulls): "I feel like we've won it, massive training effort from the team, we only knew he was getting in this week, to get him primed for this after coming back from 1400m, he was fit, ready to go. We had a good walk of the track before, me James (Cummings) and team and we pulled it off, it was good."

This article first appeared on Racing.com and is reprinted here with their kind permission. To find out more about Racing Victoria's Off the Track program, visit rv.racing.com/the-horse/off-the-track.

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