Co-trainer Peter Snowden has identified the reigning champion Terravista as the danger to his super sprinter Redzel first-up in the Black Caviar Lightning 2018 at Flemington today.

Reigning champion Terravista (pictured) is the only real danger to odds-on favourite Redzel in the 2018 Black Caviar Lightning according to co-trainer Peter Snowden. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Twelve months ago the Joe Pride-trained Terravista improved on a second the autumn prior to take out he Group 1 $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) fresh in an upset at double-figures.

This afternoon the now eight-year-old son of Captain Rio will attempt successive wins in the race for the first time since the sprint’s now namesake, triple champion Black Caviar (2011-13).

It will be a notable challenge for the first-up specialist (10:6-2-1) however with Team Snowden’s Snitzel five-year-old Redzel dominating the Black Caviar Lightning odds at Ladbrokes.com.au paying $1.80 to make it seven straight wins.

A two-time Group 1 winner thanks to his Doomben 10,000 success last winter and his Darley Classic win down the Flemington straight during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Also dominant in all of his fresh runs to date (6:3-2-0), Redzel comes into the race on the back of two ultra-impressive Rosehill trials including a 1000m winning hit-out by three lengths on February 5.

While Terravista, the evergreen veteran the $8 third favourite in Black Caviar Lightning betting, drew ideally in barrier four, Redzel came up with barrier nine in the ten-horse field.

That outer gate is ideal though according to Snowden who is confident the horse’s speed, proven straight track ability and recent work will make him hard to stop in Flemington Race 8 today.

“I’m not one to get too carried away, but I’m happy with his preparation and the way he looks,” Snowden told Racing Victoria on Friday.

“He’s quite forward and you need to be. These Group 1 races are very hard to win but his work on Tuesday suggested to me, he’s back on track.

“The beauty about this bloke, he runs his own races.

“He’s got tremendous gate speed and he drew just where I wanted to draw actually because from the outside we can please ourselves and we won’t be dictated to by anything.

“Whether he’s in front or outside the leader or just sitting off one it won’t matter. He races very well down the straight. Nothing will be crossing him.”

Redzel has to date had 21 starts for 11 wins, four seconds and a third.

His incredible $7,797,750 in total prize money is mostly thanks to the $5.8 million winners’ cheque he picked out at Randwick in mid-October over the spring in the inaugural $10 million The Everest (1200m).

Success for the punters in the Black Caviar Lightning today will see the horse take home a further $450,000 in earnings and that is enough to see him surpass Black Caviar’s total career prize money of $7.95 million when she bowed out undefeated after 25 starts.

“I wouldn’t dare put him in her category but prizemoney is what it is and he’s been lucky enough to win it,” Snowden said of the comparisons being made between Redzel and Black Caviar.

“He’s just the ideal racehorse to have.”

If there is a challenge to the favourite this afternoon however Snowden believes it will be coming from Terravista and his hoop Mark Zahra.

“He’s one horse that does excel here,” Snowden said.

“Although he’s getting older he saves his best for here.”

As for the other challengers?

“He’s meeting the same sort of horses he met before he went out for a spell,” Snowden said.

“I’m certainly not downplaying the opposition but I’m confident the horse is up to the challenge on Saturday.

“Being 1000 metres, it’s all about you can’t afford to make one mistake. Just missing the start by a neck can cost you the race. There are always variables.”

Snowden added that a next-up option for Redzel after the Lightning Stakes could be the Group 1 $500,000 William Reid Stakes (1200m) under the lights at The Valley on March 23.

Of course, the premier aim is a return to Sydney’s Royal Randwick on April 7 on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ for a shot at the Group 1 $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

To back Redzel today and his upcoming autumn racing targets at the right Group 1 odds head to Ladbrokes.com.au.