Stradbroke Golden Ticket the Lure for Redford

Trainer Stuart Kendrick is optimistic about Redford’s prospects in next year’s Queensland Winter Racing Carnival as the promising sprinter takes on $300,000 The Gateway at Eagle Farm on Saturday. According to racingqueensland.com.au, a win in the 1400-metre Weight for Age feature would secure a golden ticket into the $3 million Gr1 Stradbroke Handicap in June. Victory in The Gateway not only exempts the winner from the Stradbroke ballot but also allows connections to either run their horse or negotiate their slot for a horse in the top 40 entries. Kendrick remarked, “The Gateway is a good race in itself, but it’s an added bonus to win and get into the Stradbroke. It’s a very winnable race for Redford if you take out Tony Gollan’s Transatlantic, which was very impressive winning last time.” Redford, who has four wins and. A second from 6 starts, began his career with Annabel Neasham, securing wins at Bathurst and Orange, before moving to Kendrick’s Sunshine Coast stables. He made an immediate impact, winning his debut for his new stable in a Sunshine Coast Benchmark race in September. However, he stumbled slightly when finishing fourth in a 1400-metre Benchmark at Eagle Farm later that month. Redford rebounded strongly with a 1615-metre Benchmark win at Doomben on October 5, followed by a strong second behind Kris Lees’ imported Inver Park in a Class 6 Plate at the Sunshine Coast on November 16. A beautifully pedigreed $1 million Magic Millions yearling purchase – he’s by Snitzel out a half-sister to Not A Single Doubt – Redford’s future looks bright. “Aiming for the Magic Millions series after Saturday’s start, Kendrick noted that if that doesn’t unfold, there are some nice races for him at the Gold Coast the week before.