Tye Angland knew it is his last year on Trapeze Artist. There were a lot of emotions behind his Everest ride on the Snitzel colt but there was magic in Redzel’s feet. He just took off and didn’t look back, keeping his Everest crown in the possession of the Triple Crown Syndicate.
In an earlier interview with Everest Diaries jockey Kerrin McEvoy had said is strategy would be to beat Trapeze Artist. And that’s exactly what he did.
Tommy Berry was a genius on Godolphin’s Osborne Bulls a last minute replacement when Home Of The Brave was withdrawn.
Trapeze Artist chased Redzel bravely but in vain to finish second while Osborne Bulls navigated a solo route down the outside running rail to finish third.
Trapeze Artist earned a A$2.1 million prizemoney. The big boy doesn’t like the wet. Jockey Angland said,“It’s just hard to run Redzel down on a wet track where we don’t perform to our best.
Bert Vieira, owner of Trapeze Artist, was trackside for the first time since his wife, Gai, was critically injured in a car accident about a month ago.
“Trapeze Artist gave his all, tried his heart out. I’m confident we would have been closer in the finish if it was a firm track.” Trapeze Artist ran down Redzel on a firm track during their TJ Smith Stakes clash earlier this year.
In another interview Berry revealed he was pleasantly surprised when he found out Godolphin’s head trainer was having similar thoughts as him on how to ride Osbourne Bulls.
Berry had hoped to repeat his ride on Frolic where he won the Reisling Stakes by guiding the filly down the outside fence to beat She Will Reign.
“I couldn’t believe James was thinking the same way as I was,”
“It was a massive training effort from the team, we only knew he was getting in this week,” Berry said.
Osborne Bulls finishing fast out wide for third, earning A$1.2 million prizemoney.
Trainer Kris Lees saddled up three Everest runners and they all ran competitively with Le Romain finishing fourth, Graff fifth and In Her Time seventh.
Irish raider U S Navy Flag didn’t really enjoy his trip down the track and ended up ninth, beaten 10 lengths.
Brave Smash (eighth) and Vega Magic (last) couldn’t repeat their Everest placings from 12 months ago.
Vogue Magazine noted that despite an overcast day the raceday audience was in their fashionable best. Plenty of pastel blues and nude pinks colours. Fashionistas chose prints as their go-to medium this year and added bows as embellishments.
All together a great day for the start of the Spring Carnival.
Click here to watch The Everest Winner Race 2018
1st Redzel (J: Kerrin McEvoy T: Peter and Paul Snowden),2nd Trapeze Artist (J: Tye Angland T: Gerald Ryan),3rd Osborne Bulls (J: Tommy Berry T: James Cummings),4th Le Romain (J: Glyn Schofield T: Kris Lees),5th Graff (J: Brenton Avdulla T: Kris Lees),6th Santa Ana Lane (J: Ben Melham T: Anthony Freedman),7th In Her Time (J: Corey Brown T: Kris Lees),8th vBrave Smash (J: Hugh Bowman T: Darren Weir),9th U S Navy Flag (J: Ryan Moore T: Aidan O'Brien),10th Viddora (J: Joe Bowditch T: Lloyd Kennewell)
Distance:1,200 metres, Surface:Turf, Track:Right-handed, Qualification:$600,000 entry fee, Weight:Weight for Age, Purse:$13 million (2018
Credit: Pallavi Shevade pallavi.shevade@secretariatsworld.com