By Daithi Harvey
The G1 James Boag's Premium Doomben 10,000 was the feature event at Doomben in Brisbane on Saturday and it saw Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) gain a first Group 1 victory in pillar to post fashion. The 4-year-old gelding appeared to be the second string for trainers Peter & Paul Snowden whose Russian Revolution (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) started favourite for the A$700,000 event over 1200m. Veteran rider Jim Byrne kept tactics simple and was happy to lead the thirteen runner field from the outset. Approaching the straight the challengers were beginning to stack up behind with the winner looking vulnerable. Russian Revolution appeared to be going best and got a dream run through on the inside of Redzel to mount his challenge 300 metres from home. That challenge soon fizzled out and as Byrne stoked up Redzel he responded gamely. Both Counterattack (Aus) (Redoute's Choice {Aus}) and Derryn (Aus) (Hichinbrook {Aus}) flashed home late to follow home the winner getting t within a half a length at the line with almost three lengths back to Russian Revolution in fourth. “The 10,000 is such a time honoured race so it's a privilege to win it with a horse that really deserved to,” Peter Snowden said afterwards
“He's promised so much and it's taken a while for him to deliver but once he has, he's delivered in spades so I'm very proud of the horse. He's just kept getting stronger and he's winning races with authority.” Although not exactly a household name, jockey Jim Byrne is a three time champion in Brisbane and the 45-year-old got his fractions spot on in the race and was thrilled to get another Group 1 on the board. “I knew coming to the turn, passing the 400 metre mark that if I could hold him together just that little bit longer he was going to make it difficult for the others,” Byrne said. Peter Snowden was also fulsome in praise of the rider and added, “Jim went through every nook and cranny of the race and we talked about what could and couldn't happen and it panned out perfectly because he controlled the tempo, rated him nicely and the horse did a good job. That will be it for Redzel, we'll pull up stumps and you'll see him in Melbourne during the spring.”
Redzel made his stakes breakthrough just over a year ago when winning a listed race at Randwick March 2016. He climbed another rung on the ladder when landing the G3 Resimax S. at Caulfield five months later before finishing in rear on his first attempt at Group 1 level in the G1 Moir S. behind Extreme Choice (Aus) (Not A Single Doubt {Aus}). Having ended 2016 with a defeat of Terravista (Aus) (Captain Rio {GB}) in a listed race at Flemington he resumed 2017 with a fine run when a short head second to English (Aus) (Encosta De Lago {Aus}) in the G2 Challenge S. at Randwick Mar. 4. A head defeat to Russian Revolution in the G1 Galaxy H. at Rosehill Mar. 18 proved he belonged at this level before he confirmed Saturday's form to the pound when beating Counterattack three parts of a length in the G3 Hall Mark S. at Randwick Apr. 15.
Pedigree notes…
Redzel is bred to be fast and classy. By the all conquering Snitzel, his dam is the GSW Millrich (Aus) (Rubiton {Aus}) who also finished third in the G1 Golden Slipper back in 1994. From 11 foals the mare has produced six other winners including the Group 3 winner Danerich (Aus) (Danehill). Millrich herself was the best performer of her dam Mill Rani (Aus) (Millionaire {Ire}) who also bred a two other stakes performers. Millrich also has an un-raced full sister called Rubimill (Aus) who has left her mark, producing the G1 Royal Randwick Guineas runner-up El Roca (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}).
JAMES BOAG'S PREMIUM DOOMBEN 10,000 S.-G1, A$708,000 (US$522,716/£405,568/€478,152), BRC, 5-13, Open wfa, 1200mT, 1:10.54, Soft.
1-&REDZEL (Aus), 58.5, g, 4, by Snitzel (Aus)
1st Dam: Millrich (Aus), by Rubiton (Aus)
2nd Dam: Mill Rani (Aus), by Millionaire (IRE)
3rd Dam: Sana Rani (NZ), by Pakistan II (GB)
(A$45,000 Wlg '13 INGJUL; A$120,000 Ylg '14 MMLJAN) O-Triple Crown Synd (Mgr: C H Ward,), Walfam No 2 (Mgr: B Walsh), Ten Players (Mgr: S J Fletcher), J N Allen, P Piras, V P Chau, T W Cheng, M R Waddington, Mrs A Gibson, Dr A Kuok, J; B-Mr LJ Fleming NSW; T-P & P Snowden; J-J Byrne; A$456,000. Lifetime Record: 17-7-4-1, A$1,194,450.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*
2–Counterattack (Aus), 58.5, h , 4, Redoute's Choice (Aus)–Kisma (Aus), by Snippets (Aus).
O-G L Grimish & Mrs M Grimish; B-Mr G Grimish NSW; T-C J Waller; J-O P Bosson; A$140,000.
3–Derryn (Aus), 57.0, c, 3, Hinchinbrook (Aus)–Munhro (Aus),by Lonhro (Aus).
(A$110,000 Ylg '15 INGAPR) O-Pinecliff Racing (Mgr: J B Munz), R J Fleetwood, T Rivans, W H Collyer, T W Gordon, D Denson, D A Hayes, Lir Racing (Mgr: S A Atkins), Too Many Reds (Mgr: T J Pender) & S P Seifert; B-Bylong Park NSW; T-D & B Hayes & T Dabernig; J-Regan Bayliss; A$70,000.
Margins: 0.5, 0.8, 2.8. Odds: 8/1, 9/1, 17/2.
Also Ran: Russian Revolution (Aus), In Her Time (Aus), Start Wondering (NZ), Takedown (Aus), Japonisme (Aus), Fell Swoop (Aus), Rebel Dane (Aus), Upstart Pride (Aus), The Monstar (Aus), Music Magnate (NZ). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
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