AUSTRALIA DAY OMEN WINNER

Redders proved to be an Australia Day omen when he scored a determined win first-up at Geelong on Monday.

The striking son of Star Turn is named after the late Australian Test Batsman, and Geelong local, Ian Redpath by his mates from the Barwon Heads Golf Club who race the three-year-old. 

So it was a great story and quite fitting that Redders could win on Redpath's hometown track in the week that is the 50th anniversary of his 66th and final Test Match for Australia. 

And his friends were there in force to celebrate the occasion.

Redders was returning to the track after a long spell and also being gelded, and it appears he has returned a more genuine article given the way he chased down the victory in the closing stages of the 1140m event.

Jockey Lachie Neindorf was thrilled with the performance of the gelding, in what was his first winner for trainer Danny O'Brien.

"I am fortunate to get the opportunities from these big trainers and so pleased that i could get the job done for him," Neindorf said post race.

"It's a credit to Danny and his team to have him ready to go first-up and he did a terrific job to win. 

"We traveled sweetly behind the leader, but when we went to take the gap we got flattened at 250m, but he pinned his ears back and went again and he really wanted to savage the line,  which is what i liked most about his win."

Redders has now won two races and placed from six career starts.  The chestnut was the top lot of Book 2 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when he fetched $230,000 through the ring for O'Brien.

Pics by Racing Photos