After confirming a spot in next month’s 2017 The Everest this week the money on the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Redzel has poured in for the galloper to win The Shorts at Royal Randwick on the weekend.
Redzel (pictured) is firming favourite to beat Chautauqua in Saturday’s The Shorts 2017 at Randwick Racecourse.
The five-year-old will represent James Harron’s Bloodstock in the $10 million The Everest (1200m) back at the track on October 14, Redzel having his final lead-up into the weight-for-age restricted feature on Saturday.
The son of Snitzel is one of nine confirmed sprinters facing off in the Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m) on George Main Stakes Day, the race taking place one event after Winx chases her 20th straight victory in the Group 1.
This season’s The Shorts field has been dubbed the ‘Mini Everest’ as four confirmed starters in the inaugural edition of the country’s richest race do battle.
Drawn gate five with Hugh Bowman – of Winx fame – booked for the ride, Redzel has firmed into $2.60 favouritism in the latest The Shorts odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
He is second-up and will be fitter after the impressive two length Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) win at the track a fortnight back when carting 60kg to victory.
Redzel has outstanding form over The Shorts distance (9-4-2-1) and will give his rivals something to chase home.
Occupying the second line of The Shorts betting at $3.60 is fellow The Everest-bound champion Chautauqua.
The Hawkes Racing-trained Encosta De Lago seen-year-old has trialled twice leading-up to his highly anticipated return.
Chautauqua has a 50% winning strike rate at Randwick and was last seen saluting in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at the course for a third straight year on April 1.
The great grey is a proven fresh performer boasting a first-up record of five wins, a second and a third and is the obvious danger on Saturday.
Following closely at $3.80 is then the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained mare English who is also first-up and has The Everest in her sights next month.
Runner-up in the TJ Smith Stakes during ‘The Championships’, this five-year-old shares a sire with Chautauqua and will be better over further as she progresses through the spring.
That said, she cannot be discounted having defeated Redzel narrowly back in early March to win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m), albeit on a Heavy (10) track.
Outside of the dominant The Shorts trio the other longer priced hopefuls with claims include Stratum five-year-old Takedown ($11) who won last November’s Winterbottom Stakes in Perth and Fell Swoop ($11) who is the other confirmed The Everest runner in the mix.
See below for the latest The Shorts 2017 racing odds, markets open on all the Saturday races as well as upcoming features including The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au.
