Team Snowden’s The Galaxy runner-up Redzel drops back in class for a shot at a late autumn win in the 2017 Hall Mark Stakes at Randwick Racecourse this Saturday in Sydney.

Group 1 runner-up last start Redzel will appreciate a drop in grade for the Hall Mark Stakes 2017 on Saturday at Randwick. Photo: Steve Hart.
The in-form Snitzel four-year-old has had two runs this time in for two brave seconds and will be out to go one better third-up in the $150,000 Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) on All Aged Stakes Day.
The Hall Mark Stakes field runs as Randwick Race 4 at 1:50pm (AEST) and has attracted a final line-up of ten sprinters with Redzel to jump from barrier six with Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle.
McEvoy rode the galloper two back when he went down a nose to English in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
On Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill, Dwayne Dunn had the mount when Redzel was again narrowly defeated this time to his three-year-old stablemate Russian Revolution in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m).
Also coming off a good lead-up run into the Hall Mark Stakes is the Darren Weir-trained four-year-old Hellbent.
The I Am Invincible stallion was runner-up to the mare Silent Sedition at Moonee Valley on March 24 in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) and will also relish dropping down in grade on the weekend.
His other most recent start was the close fourth to Sheidel in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m), Saturday’s race his first in Sydney since a second last (12th) behind Japonsime in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m) twelve months ago.
Weir made the call to run Hellbent in the Group 3 over the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) on Saturday giving the horse an easier assignment over the sprint distance.
“He’ll run in the Hall Mark,” Weir told AAP.
“I just thought the 1200 metres was the right way to go. He’s well weighted and it’s a nice race for him.
“Then he’ll go to either The Goodwood [in Adelaide] or Brisbane [for the Winter Carnival].”
A number of sprinters race first-up in the Hall Mark Stakes including the 60kg top weight Takedown and the John O’Shea-trained Federal drawn barriers four and two respectively.
The Gary Moore-trained Stratum four-year-old Takedown hasn’t raced since a run overseas finishing sixth in the Group 1 Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).
That followed a Perth elite level win from November in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m), while his last Sydney start produced the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) victory in October last year.
Godolphin galloper Federal meanwhile has his first start since a Group 3 third over 1400m at Flemington in November last year.
Check out the full Hall Mark Stakes 2017 field, barriers, jockeys and weights below before viewing all the Randwick race odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2017 Hall Mark Stakes Final Field & Barriers
Randwick Race 4 (1:50pm) – 15/04/2017
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Br. | Wgt. | Hcp. Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 20x112516x | TAKEDOWN | Gary Moore | Tim Clark | 4 | 60kg | 111 |
2 | 1261x7060x | MIGHTY LUCKY | Fred Cowell | Chris O’Brien | 7 | 58.5kg | 105 |
3 | 15x1181x22 | REDZEL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 6 | 58kg | 106 |
4 | 17x2602x80 | COUNTERATTACK | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 1 | 58kg | 101 |
5 | 0x393047x4 | SANTA ANA LANE | Lee & Anthony Freedman | Craig Williams | 8 | 58kg | 92 |
6 | 442x23343x | FEDERAL | John O’Shea | James Doyle | 2 | 57kg | 99 |
7 | 11111x640x | CLEARLY INNOCENT | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 9 | 57kg | 95 |
8 | 10113×3442 | HELLBENT | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 5 | 56kg | 105 |
9 | 20x61324x1 | ROYAL TUDOR | Rodney Ollerton | Christian Reith | 10 | 56kg | 77 |
10 | x44434x240 | DENMAGIC | David Pfieffer | TBD | 3 | 54kg | 96 |