Cheeky Weanling Becomes $15 Million Superstar

Media Release - Thursday October 18

The Eliza Park Victorian bred Redzel took his earnings to a staggering $15,372,000 when successfully defending his crown in Saturday's $13 million Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

Redzel wins The Everest again!This second Everest win brought great joy to the several Eliza Park staff who cared for him after he was born in September 2012.

With Kerrin McEvoy again in the saddle, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained gelding dominated the race from the front on a rain-sodden surface to defeat Trapeze Artist by one and a quarter lengths..

Redzel is the tenth living foal and second stakes-winner, (also including Group 3 winner, now Rangal Park sire Danerich), for the former top-class Rubiton mare Millrich.

A winner of the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes, Millrich was also placed in the Group 1 Golden Slipper, Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes, Group 2 Magic Night Stakes and Group 2 San Domenico Stakes.

Redzel would be her eleventh but sadly and final foal as just a few weeks after Redzel was born Millrich passed away due to laminitis.

Redzel and his dam Millrich at Eliza Park - pic Shadow Hill ThoroughbredsNow known as the likely the most successful orphan to grace the track, Redzel was sold as a weanling when Eliza Park faced financial difficulties and was placed into receivership.

Sold through the 2013 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale at Newmarket for $45,000 to Marquee Stud, Redzel, being an orphan foal had become a staff favourite.

Long time Eliza Park employees Jenny Saunders and John Jeffs said the tough little colt was always a standout.

"I remember him as a gorgeous colt when he was a weanling. He looked like he still had so much improvement in him, but the raw product was there to be seen," Jeffs said this week.

"Unfortunately for us (Eliza Park), there was no reserve on any of the horses so he went cheap (at the weanling sale). All of the bloodstock was sold through the sales…it was through no fault of his own."

"Later when he was sold as a yearling for $120,000 by Marquee Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast sale, Jenny Saunders our yearling manager, excitedly came up to me and said that she had found our boy and to come and have a look at him.

"Well, we walked around the back and saw that he had developed and grown into the most beautiful yearling you'd ever seen in your life. He had the right attitude that has carried him in good stead into his incredible racing career. The rest is history I guess.

"He was a doll, everyone loved him, and it's so good to see him go on to be such a wonderful horse. I will always be cheering for him – maybe in the Manikato in two weeks."

Although the lead up for Redzel to defend his Everest title wasn't perfect, becoming cast in his box on the eve of The Shorts, and then being unplaced in his next run in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick,, it didn't stop him taking out the big race on Saturday.

"People wrote him off but I think it's all about knowing and believing in your horse," Peter Snowden said. "You don't ever give up in this sport, that's how we treat everything."

"Don't throw the toys out of the cot, don't throw yourself down, just try to do your best to get things back on track again."

News from TBV
Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Sires With Winners - Monday November 4
Here is the full list of 21 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.