Redzel looks to be the only sprinter the punters want in 2018 TJ Smith Stakes betting for this weekend at Royal Randwick with Team Snowden’s The Everest champ firming favourite to salute.
Redzel is the firming and deserving favourite in 2018 TJ Smith Stakes betting this Saturday in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.
There are 14 chances in this year’s Group 1 $2.5 million Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) but Redzel is the only horse to move in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au since the field was confirmed on Tuesday morning.
Backed-in early from TJ Smith Stakes odds of $2.25 to $2.15, the five-year-old son of Snitzel has lost just one of his past eight starts and is undefeated over the track and distance.
Best known for his success in Randwick’s inaugural The Everest (1200m) in the spring and the subsequent Flemington straight six win in the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m), Redzel presents fit third-up on the weekend.
His resuming run saw him run down in the final stride by Redkirk Warrior in the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m), form that was franked when the winner backed-up and saluted at Flemington again in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Redzel meanwhile headed back to Sydney after the Black Caviar Lightning and atoned for the first-up loss with a brilliant two length win in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
That was his ninth start at the track and his sixth Randwick win, form he will be looking to add to this weekend back in Group 1 grade.
Redzel put the writing on the wall ahead of the TJ Smith Stakes winning a March 26 barrier trial over 1000m at the track by three lengths and drew an ideal barrier six gate to boot for the weekend.
Just two of the other chances are under $10 to score the upset with In Her Time easing out from $4 to $4.20 and Brave Smash sitting steady as the $7 third elect – the duo drawn in barriers three and two respectively.
Benjamin Smith’s class mare In Her Time missed out on her chance in The Everest last October failing to gain a spot in the field, but her consolation victory in the Listed Sydney Stakes (1200m) saw her run slick time winning in 1:08.26.
That was faster than Redzel’s The Everest winning time over the same track and distance on the day (1:08.36).
The five-year-old daughter of Time Thief then travelled to Melbourne and went down narrowly when second to Hey Doc in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley.
First-up she posted a well-earned elite level success, In Her Time charging home over dual TJ Smith Stakes placegetter English – who has her third shot in Saturday’s race – in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m).
Second-up she will be fitter for the run and the step-up to 1200m also looks good for the mare who boasts a great record over the distance with four wins and two seconds from eight starts.
Brave Smash meanwhile is a Darren Weir-trained Japanese expat who races at Randwick for the second time, his other start on the course producing the good third in The Everest.
He has had four runs this year including the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) win at Caulfield and was last seen finishing runner-up at Flemington to Redkirk Warrior in the Newmarket Handicap.
Check out the latest TJ Smith Stakes 2018 betting odds below before placing your Randwick bets online through Ladbrokes.com.au.
