On Saturday, it felt like all of Orange was riding on the back of Redzel down the straight at The Everest at Randwick, not just his Orange co-owners.
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But when the reigning champion crossed the line to retain the crown, co-owner Frank Weymouth said he felt nothing but “sheer elation”.
Unsurprisingly, Weymouth said he’d had a nervous week – with checking the weather and praying for rain a big focus – but he couldn’t put into words how he was feeling during the race itself.
“It’s hard to describe, honestly, you feel for the horse, you feel for the trainer, it’s quite nerve-wracking, you’re hoping everything goes to plan and there are no interruptions and you’re hoping you get a few results,” he said.
Defending his crown to take home the $6 million prize was a massive result for Redzel and Weymouth said there had been “quite an appropriate celebration for the occasion” on Saturday night, featuring the Orange syndicate including Weymouth, Greg Fletcher, Adam Cornish and Kevin Tandy, with former Orange and now Parkes residents Scott Rayner and Stuart Milne also in on the fun.
“I was absolutely thrilled to be a part of it, but mostly thrilled to be a part of it with mates, I love my family and love my mates and to be able to spend this weekend with them was special,” Weymouth said.
I love my family and love my mates and to be able to spend this weekend with them was special.
- Frank Weymouth
“Everyone I knew had something on him.”
And with Redzel’s odds listed at $11 trackside, there was always money to be made on a wet track, with Weymouth saying trainer Peter Snowden was always backing Redzel in.
“Everything fell into place. The track was good to us, there were no hiccups – [Redzel] can get through any type of ground but it was still a phenomenal effort,” Weymouth said.
He said people had “knocked” the horse in the lead-up to the race, but said despite the Australian mantra to battle for the underdog, Redzel earned the win.
“That horse deserved it, he gives 100 per cent every time he hits the track,” he said.
Trainer Peter Snowden has indicated Redzel will travel to Melbourne to defend his Darley Classic crown on November 10 at Flemington, and Weymouth – high on Everest’s euphoria – is bullish on his chances.
“He won it last time and he’ll shake the crap out of it if he goes down there again,” he said.
“If my liver recovers in time I’ll be down there as well.”