Redzel: A Breeding Gone Right
Eliza Park bred Redzel has cruised to victory not once but twice in the world’s richest turf race, proving himself to be the best sprinter in the world. The gelding will be attempting a three-peat in the 2018 installment of the exciting event.
Redzel’s beginning was heart-breaking but overcoming adversity is the name of his game.
Just a few weeks into his life at Eliza Park in Kerrie in the spring of 2012, a Snitzel colt lost his mum, Millrich, to illness.
Redzel was born at the Kerrie farm of Eliza Park (now Sun Stud) in September 2012 however the dam Millrich unfortunately had to be euthanised several weeks later due to laminitis.
The then 20YO Millrich (Rubiton) was already a successful producer being the dam of speedy Group 3 winner Danerich (now a sire at Rangal Park in Euroa). Millrich herself was a top-quality filly on the track having won the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes and was placed in the Golden Slipper.
Her final foal of ten, Redzel, was sold as a weanling through the 2013 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale at Newmarket for $45,000 to Marquee Stud before he was sold as a yearling to his current owners Triple Crown Syndications.
“He (Redzel) was bred by Lee Fleming (former owner of Eliza Park) and was a lovely style of horse plenty of quality,” Sun Stud’s Sales and Nominations Manager, Phil Marshall recalls.
“Probably would have made six figures but he had a couple of issues on his x-rays which held a few back. Clearly hasn’t held him back though.
Only a few years ago, another Victorian bred sprinter held the title of ‘World’s Best Sprinter’. And that horse was Black Caviar.
The two sprinting stars have a common thread. And that is Eliza Park.
Her extraordinary dam Helsinge was bred by Rob Crabtree and Eliza Park’s then owner Lee Fleming. And her sire, Bel Esprit was six times champion Victorian sire while standing at the Romsey stallion barns.
Of course, Eliza Park has since been taken over by Sun Stud but remains the source of quality bloodstock.
Jim Fleming, the foodfair magnate whose stores at one time traded under Flemings are fabulous, also made a fabulous contribution to thoroughbred breeding and racing, not only in Australia but also America and Europe.
It is a contribution that is recalled following the death of the beloved former chairman of the Sydney Turf Club death at the age of 75 in Sydney. His followed in his footsteps as an owner and breeder with Eliza Park.
His son Lee Fleming can be said to have scaled some significant mountains in his relatively brief time as a studmaster and thoroughbred breeder including The Everest.
However, Eliza Park went under and the empire was liquidated.
However, the vision survived and the keen sense of right breeding resulted in an outstanding horse like Redzel.