The Everest champion Redzel will make his long-awaited return to racing at Flemington on Saturday and has opened a $1.75 favourite to win the Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m).
Redzel has been a smart performer throughout his entire racing career, but he went to another level in 2017 and is seeking a seventh-consecutive win when he steps out in the Lightning Stakes 2018.
The Snitzel gelding was sent to the paddock after he broke through for a maiden win at the highest level in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) in May last year and resumed for a dominant win in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 2nd.
Completing an ideal lead-up to The Everest with another smart win amongst classy company in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m), Redzel took up the running in the $10 million feature race on October 14th and never appeared in doubt; savaging the line to comfortably beat Vega Magic and Brave Smash.
The five-year-old was last seen winning the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) on Stakes Day and has trialled well in the lead-up to the Lightning Stakes.
Regular hoop Kerrin McEvoy will take the ride on Redzel from barrier 9, who continues to receive plenty of interest from punters at his current price.
Straight-track specialist Terravista finished within a length of Redzel in the Darley Classic and he is who the punters are coming for at the time of publish.
The son of Captain Rio resumed for a classy win in this race in 2017 and has firmed in from an opening quote of $9.50 to currently register as the clear market mover at $7.
Terravista broke through for his first Group 1 win during the 2014 Spring Carnival and has been one of the country’s most consistent top-level performers since debuting in 2013.
Redkirk Warrior has one each of his two first-up runs down the Flemington straight are arguably represents the best value for money in Lightning Stakes betting at $14.
The Notnowcato gelding became the first horse in a century to win the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) as a first point of call, but his form sharply tailed-off through two subsequent Autumn Carnival starts.
Having won the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) in almost identical circumstances first-up in spring, the seven-year-old again failed to produce in either of The Everest or Darley Classic and was sent to the paddock.
This is probably his opportunity to notch another Group 1 win and jockey Regan Bayliss will look to take up the running in the Lightning Stakes from a central draw.
Hey Doc ($7.50) and consistent filly Formality ($10) have genuine claims at good odds in this race, while blow-out hoop Missrock ($26) is arguably at her best down the straight and appears to be over the odds at current.