Peter and Paul Snowden's speedster Redzel has enhanced his Everest credentials with a hard-fought win in the Group II The Shorts (1100m) in track record time at Randwick on Saturday.
Redzel ($2.50 fav) stopped the clock at 1:01.83, 0.13 seconds faster than Famous Seamus' 2012 time, to defeat a gallant Ball Of Muscle ($10) by 1-1/4 lengths.
"He has come a long way this bloke. He has learned how to race properly. He is very, very genuine," Peter Snowden said.
"He never makes a mistake. He races on pace, on wet tracks, dry tracks, carries weight well, he's just the real deal now."
While Redzel has confirmed his position in next month's $10 million Everest (1200m) courtesy of slot holder James Harron, Joe Pride's Ball Of Muscle has pushed his claims for an unlikely berth in the inaugural event after a stunning return to form.
Pride said he would listen to offers regarding an Everest start for Ball Of Muscle but in the meantime has plans to run the gelding in the Group I Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday week – the same race which Group I winning stablemate Terravista could also start in.
"It's (The Everest) on the table," Pride said.
"He's not a first-up horse so that was an exceptional run."
The John Thompson-trained Nieta ($21) was a short neck behind Ball Of Muscle in third while leading Everest contender Chautauqua, which drifted from $4.80 to $5.50 on course, finished seventh but lost no admirers ahead of his lucrative grand final with a typically fast-finishing burst.
"Terrific, obviously a month until the grand final, couldn't be happier. If it was 1200m today he probably runs over the top of them," Chautauqua's new rider Brenton Avdulla said.
