Redzel’s outstanding sectionals on an amazing day of very fast times at Randwick
On a day of very fast times, which caught most racing buffs by surprise with the nine-race card being conducted on a surface rated as Good 4, generally considered far from ideal for breaking records.
In addition, the meeting commenced with a penetrometer rating of 5.19, also not considered conducive to fast times, plus there did not appear to be strong winds which is another factor usually taken into account.
Those comments aside, the fact remains that the day resulted in two new course records being established, plus a number of fast-run races that were only marginally outside course record time.
So when a sprinter of the quality of Redzel stepped out it was no surprise to see him better De Lightning Ridge’s (Tale Of The Cat) 55.92 course record that she set in winning the very same race, the Challenge Stakes on 13 March 2010.
Flying mare Super Too (Hinchinbrook) also ran in this year’s race and her early sectional times were quite amazing before Redzel overpowered her in the straight, after a well-judged ride by Kerrin McEvoy.
He kept Redzel back several lengths off the hectic tempo before running out a decisive winner by almost two lengths in a time of 55.73 – bettering the old record by 0.19, with Jungle Edge (Dubawi) a very good second and Super Too just holding on for third.
Clocked from the 800 metres point to the 200 metres, Super Too returned astonishing early sections of 9.96, 10.38 (400m in 20.34) and 10.83 (600m in 31.17) – and the 9.96 fraction was very noteworthy as On The Watch cannot recall a sub-10 seconds 200 metre section previously.
In addition to setting a new course record, Redzel’s closing sectionals were also outstanding with his last 800 metres in 42.29, last 600 metres in 32.11 with his final 400 metres in a brilliant 21.70.
It was Redzel’s second run this preparation and is now the winner of seven of his past eight starts with a career record of 12 wins and six placings from 23 starts for prize money earnings of $8,221,750 – boosted by winning the inaugural The Everest (1200m) last year.
The other course record broken on the day was achieved by last year’s Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Happy Clapper (Teofilo) in his excellent first up performance in taking out the Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m).
Again sitting off a strong tempo, Happy Clapper came with a strong late run under Blake Shinn, in another well-judged ride to defeat the dual Group One-winning mare Global Glamour (Star Witness) by just over a length, in a time of 1:14.24, which bettered Super Ex’s (Excites) record of 1:14.59 by 0.35.
A time of 1:14.25 is a fast 200 metre rate of 11.42 for the 1300 metre journey, equivalent to 1400 metres in 1:19.94 – fast indeed.
The strong tempo was set again by the front-running Global Glamour who returned 200 metre sections (from the 1200 metre mark) of 10.46, 10.84 (400m in 21.30), 11.04 (600m in 32.34), 11.06 (800m in 43.40), 11.05 (1000m in 54.45) with her final 200 metres in 11.93 to give her an amazingly quick last 1200 metres of 1:06.38.
Happy Clapper naturally returned very smart closing sectionals with his last 400 metres in 22.20, last 600 metres in 33.31, last 800 metres in 44.34, last 1000 metres in 55.18 with his final 1200 metres also being stunning, a brilliant 1:06.05.
In the following race, the third of three Group One races on the day, the up and coming three-year-old star Kementari (Lonhro) recorded another brilliant win for Godolphin in taking out the Randwick Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and remain unbeaten in three runs this preparation.
Ridden patiently and skilfully by Glyn Schofield, Kementari remained back in seventh place, tracking a strong pace (first 1000m 59.00) before dashing to the front halfway down the straight to score comfortably by a length and a half.
Time for the 1600 metre journey was a very quick 1:33.72, which was 0.59 seconds outside of Ike’s Dream’s (Galileo) record of 1:33.13 that has stood since December 2004.
Kementari’s closing sections were also impressive, with his last 400 metres in 22.61, last 600 metres in 34.01, last 800 metres in 44.57, last 1000 metres in 57.12 with his final 1200 metres in a fast 1:08.48.
The talented colt now heads to the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick on 7 April with strong credentials.
Other fast, and near course record times, on the day was recorded in the Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and the Fireball Stakes (Listed, 1100m).
In the Todman Stakes, the Jean Dubois-trained colt Aylmerton (Siyouni) prevailed by a head, gamely overhauling the leader Ef Troop (Spirit Of Boom) in a quick 1:08.84, which was only 0.78 seconds outside of Redzel’s record of 1:08.06.
While in the Fireball Stakes, the David Pfieffer-trained filly I Am Excited (Snitzel) was most impressive in coming with a late run from back in seventh place to score by just under a length in a time of 1:02.17 (200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:07.82.
I Am Excited’s 1:02.17 was only 0.34 outside of (now dual Randwick record holder) Redzel’s course record for 1100 metres and the three-year-old filly’s closing times were also most impressive.
She was clocked to run her last 400 metres in 22.82, last 600 metres in 33.20, last 800 metres in 43.65 with her final 1000 metres in a fast 54.07.
I Am Excited is now unbeaten in two starts this preparation and Saturday was her third win (with three placings) in nine starts – and she looks primed for more success in stronger classes this preparation.
Acknowledgement is also warranted to the front-running Houtzen (I Am Invincible) who was pressured in the lead that resulted in a cracking early tempo.
Houtzen’s 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000 metres) was: 10.27, 10.34 (400m in 20.69), 10.94 (600m in 31.63), 11.14 (800m in 42.71) with her final 200 metres in 12.12, giving her a last 1000 metres in 54.39.
It was Houtzen’s first start since November and her effort in holding on for third was very good considering the circumstances.