Favourite in futures TJ Smith Stakes 2018 betting for Saturday week, The Everest winner Redzel put in the ideal lead-up with a trial win that had co-trainer Peter Snowden all smiles on Monday morning.
TJ Smith Stakes 2018 favourite Redzel enjoyed an easy trial win this week on way to the $2.5 million feature on April 7. Photo: Steve Hart.
Snitzel five-year-old Redzel was put through his paces in the opening Randwick trial at the Kensington track over 1000m and was ultra-impressive saluting by three lengths over Newcastle Newmarket Handicap winner Lanciato.
Redzel’s regular rider Kerrin McEvoy was in the saddle for the slick hit-out that saw Team Snowden’s $8.2 million earner salute in 58.03 seconds including a final 600m sectional in 33.5 seconds without ever being fully extended.
All looks good then for the sprint start heading towards the Group 1 $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 7 at the track and distance he won the spring’s The Everest (1200m) over last October.
“It was a good trial and he came through it nicely so I’d expect that to set him up well for Saturday week,” Snowden told Racing Victoria.
“He trialled great.”
Since then Redzel has posted a Flemington win in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m), run second to Redkirk Warrior with a narrow first-up loss in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and returned to winning second-up in Sydney’s Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) on March 10.
That consistent form plus Monday’s winning trial have him at $2.40 in pre-field TJ Smith Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to be the first favourite to win the weight-for-age race since Lankan Rupee (2014).
New second favourite in the futures TJ Smith Stakes odds is the Benjamin Smith-trained mare In Her Time ($6.50) following her breakthrough Group 1 success first-up in last Saturday’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) a Rosehill.
Black Caviar (2013) was the last mare to beat home the boys in the TJ Smith Stakes, while The Galaxy last produced at TJ Smith Stakes winner with Bentley Biscuit (4th in 2007) when the lead-up was run at Warwick Farm.
While confident Redzel is in peak form for the race, Snowden was also wary of the competition especially that of In Her Time.
“It is always a great race and it will be no exception this year with the last start win of the filly In Her Time – she was very good – and there are always a lot of good sprinters around this time of year,” he said.
After the TJ Smith Stakes Redzel is likely to head to Brisbane for the Winter Carnival including a title defence in the Group 1 $700,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) on May 12.
To check out the latest TJ Smith Stakes 2018 betting odds and options on Redzel and his rivals head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.
