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By Ray Hickson

Superstar sprinter Redzel has stolen the show at Breakfast With The Stars at Royal Randwick ahead of Day 1 of The Championships with a sizzling piece of work.

The hot favourite for the Group 1 $2.5m Darley TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) was first onto the track and worked over 800m with a last 600m of 34.5 seconds and a last 400m of 21.68.

Trainer Peter Snowden was taken aback by the time he ran – the initial 600m time released on course was 35.7 seconds – wearing the blinkers and said it’s all systems go for Saturday.

“He has a great action and really does cover the ground well,’’ Snowden said.

“In his trial last week I thought he went a bit steady in the first bit and he ran 58 flat. He never looks to be doing that sort of work but that’s what makes him the horse he is.

“He makes hard work look very easy. He’s not a big horse but he has a good stride and is very efficient.

“I wanted to make sure his work was spot on and I didn’t want to work him again.’’

More than 30 horses made use of the course proper and one of the more interesting workers was John Sargent’s filly Luvaluva who was scratched from last Saturday’s Vinery Stud Stakes after her blood work didn’t please Sargent.

Redzel, the current favourite for the TJ Smith Stakes, working this morning ahead of Saturday - 35.7s last 600m #TheChampionships @TripleCrownSynd @SnowdenRacing1 @royalrandwick pic.twitter.com/DlL6lzlAAA

— The Championships (@ChampionshipsRR) April 2, 2018

She’s set to line up in the Group 3 $200,000 TAB Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m) and then back up a week later into the Group 1 $1m James Boag’s Australian Oaks (2400m).
Here’s a rundown of comments from trainers and jockey Kerrin McEvoy on some of the horses that worked on Tuesday morning.

David Hayes:

Long Leaf/Seberate (37.06 for 600m, G1 Inglis Sires’): They were a little bit lazy and lost on the course proper but it was maintenance work, they are very fit now. Seberate ran second at Flemington in the Sires’ and Long Leaf, I think, was one of the better runs in the Slipper. They worked on terms.

Enbihaar (38.13 for 600m, G3 Kindergarten Stakes): “Unfortunately she tied up leading into the Slipper so we couldn’t run her. That piece of work was as good as I’ve seen her go.’’

Adrian Bott:

English (37.5 for 600m, G1 TJ Smith): What we saw from her this morning tells us she is right where she needs to be. This is the race we want to win, she missed out the last couple of years.’’

Kerrin McEvoy:

Redzel (G1 TJ Smith): “he’s always a good worker and he showed he’s in good order since his nice solid trial about 10 days ago. It’s just how you want their last bit of work.’’

Long Leaf (37.06 for 600m, G1 Inglis Sires’): "he’s had the blinkers on in the Slipper but he didn’t have them on this morning. He was a bit goofy working around, he pleased me and he’s going to get to the races and switch on more with the blinkers on.

Luvaluva (36.1 for 600m, G3 Adrian Knox): “she was nice and bright and I couldn’t fault the way she felt, comparing her to previously when I’ve ridden her. You’d like to think she can run really well on Saturday.

Assimilate (38.06 for 600m, G3 Carbine Club): “I haven’t had much to do with him, Tye Angland rides him on Saturday, but he was quite dynamic over the last furlong.’’

Enbihaar (G3 Kindergarten): “she was nice and settled this morning, she’s a bit new going Sydney way but her work was quite good. She went four home two and slid up the last furlong quite stylishly.’’

Peter Snowden:

Bondi/Tchaikovsky (36.02 for 600m, G1 Inglis Sires’): “They’ve taken different paths. I do think Tchaikovsky is a horse with real talent. He’s still a bit new and he’s learning with each run he has. He’s a great worker and a real high quality colt. They both worked well.’’

Jamie Richards:

Mongolianconqueror (37.45 for 600m, G1 ATC Derby): “He wasn’t out there to do too much because he’s had a long campaign. He’s a top of the ground horse, he doesn’t have the brilliance that Gingernuts has but he stick to the task well.

“His form at home is better on top of the ground so the forecast suits us. He’ll go to the beach in the morning, he might do a bit of three-quarter on Thursday.’’

Check out the entries, form and replays for Championships Day 1 at Royal Randwick on Saturday