Trainer Peter Snowden and jockey Jim Byrne's attention to detail paid off when they combined with Redzel for an all-the-way win in the Doomben 10,000.
Redzel ($9) went straight to the lead in the opening Group One feature of the Queensland carnival and ran the field off their feet to score by a half length over Counterattack ($10), with a neck to Derryn ($9) in third.
The favourite Russian Revolution ($3.20), a stablemate of the winner, had every chance before finishing fourth.
It is the third time Peter Snowden has won the big sprint after taking it with Beaded (2011) and Epaulette (2013). But it was the first time he had shared a Doomben 10,000 win with his son Paul. The pair's best win in Queensland previously was with Hot Snitzel in the 2015 BTC Cup.
"We didn't think there was much between Redzel and Russian Revolution after they quinellaed the Group One Galaxy in the autumn," Snowden senior said. "They had both trialled well and they had both done well here."
Snowden said Redzel would now head for a spell and get ready for the spring carnival.
"He has done a good job and he has got his deserved Group One. He can have a rest."
Snowden also paid tribute to Byrne's attention to detail. "He got Redzel out and made them run his race. We went through the details about 27,000 times in the lead-up to the race."
It was the third Group one win this season for the Snowdens, who have a big team in Brisbane for the winter.
For Byrne this was his first win in the Doomben 10,000 and his first Group One success since Riva San's 2008 Queensland Derby.
His previous best effort in the 10,000 was a second on Adam in 1999, a horse which he then won the Stradbroke Handicap.
Byrne said Redzel had travelled well in front and kicked strongly in the straight. "It is obviously a great thrill to win a Group One race for the Snowdens and their owners the Triple Crown syndicate," he said.
Chris Waller said Counterattack had done well to chase the winner who he rated a good horse.
"But our bloke was still strong through the line and an extra 100 metres in the Kingsford Smith Cup will suit him," Waller said.
Regan Bayliss, who rode Derryn, said the colt was an ideal Stradbroke horse, while Kerrin McEvoy said Russian Revolution wasn't happy in the wet conditions.
