Redavni chases ticket to Gold Coast in Jewel Qualifier

Atherton trainer Janel Ryan is quietly confident emerging filly Redavni can overcome immaturity with her exciting turn of speed in the Cluden Park QTIS Jewel Qualifier 3YO Plate (1200m) tomorrow.

Redavni stormed into contention for the Townsville qualifier after flashing home to win her maiden at Cluden on January 21 at just her second start.

Ryan has played a waiting game with the filly since, targeting the Jewel Qualifier and the lure of a berth in the $500,000 Jewel final at the Gold Coast on March 18.

“If she qualifies we’ll be going down. Why not?” Ryan said.

“There’s time to give her a little break, even if it’s just a week or 10 days to get her head in the right place before she goes. But she’s got to qualify first and it’s a hard race.”

“On her work yesterday morning (Saturday) I think she’ll be very competitive.”

Redavni, the name of her sire Invader spelt backwards, turned in an eye-catching run on debut in a 1000m maiden at Cluden in early January before unleashing a brilliant finish to win at her next run.

Ryan, who trains the filly with her husband Ron, believes the step up to 1200m with regular jockey Chris Whiteley is ideal, but a tricky draw in barrier 12 (into 10 with scratchings) is a slight worry.

“It would have been better if she’d drawn closer in, but she’ll probably get back anyway. Hopefully, she can land midfield, with some cover even if it's three wide. Chris will work it out.

“He was quite impressed when she won, especially with the rail out 5m that day. She really hit the line hard.

“It’s been nearly a month between runs but she’s a tough little bugger.

“She’s taken a while to get to where we are. She’s been shin sore twice and I gave her a couple of trials and she sort of walked out.  Ron ended up jumping on her himself to get her barrier ticket.

“She’s still very green but she’s improving each time she goes to the races.” 

The QTIS Jewel Qualifier is the feature race on a huge 10-race card at Cluden.

Smart stablemates Beau Rain and Roweiner’s Dance will do battle with Turn Bird in the first, the Brown Brothers 2yo Hcp 1000m at 12.25pm.

Pictured: Leading jockey Chris Whiteley returns to scale after flashing home to win on Redavni last month.

See the racing calendar for upcoming race days.