The world’s richest race on turf, The Everest will be run and won at Royal Randwick on Saturday with $20m up for grabs.
For the first time since its introduction in 2017, the 1200m feature sprint will now hold Group One status.
A quality high quality field of twelve runners will vie for honours and with eight of them already having Group One wins to their name, we’re looking at the strongest line up to date.
We also have four emergencies waiting and hoping to get their chance to compete, all of them having won at the highest level including last year’s winner, Think About It.
We’ve had a close look at each individual runner and our thoughts can be found below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. I Wish I Win (9)
Price: $6.50
I Wish I Win looks ready to peak following two very encouraging performances around the Valley.
He was the eye catcher first up in the Moir Stakes, charging home down the outside to finish a length off Mornington Glory and last time up to the more suitable trip over 1200m, he got a long way back off the wide gate, had to circle the field and again finished off strongly.
A three time Group One winner, his record speaks for itself and he’s looking to go one better after finishing second in this race last year.
He handles all conditions and barrier nine is perfect as we know he produces his best when given plenty of room.
2. Giga Kick (3)
Price: $14.00
Giga Kick returns looking to take home his second Everest trophy.
The Clayton Douglas trained son of Scissor Kick made it five straight wins when taking out the 2022 edition as an unbeaten three year old.
He had to sit out last year after pulling up with an issue in the McEwen Stakes and subsequently spent twelve months on the sidelines.
He looked to have returned in top order with an encouraging effort in the Concorde but failed to finish off last time in the Premiere Stakes.
The team are confident they have him ready to peak third up, he gets a soft draw but he will need to produce his best.
3. Private Eye (10)
Price: $23.00
Private Eye surprised a few when finishing second to Giga Kick in the 2022 Everest.
An Epsom Handicap winner as a four-year-old, I don’t think anyone expected him to be competitive at this level over the short sprint trips, but he’s certainly proven himself a quality sprinter.
He proved too good in The Shorts last year, earning himself another crack in this race and was terrific again, charging late to get within less than a length of his stablemate Think About and claim third.
Given the two runs in preparation for this, he’s been finishing well but the wide gates haven’t helped and barrier twelve here won’t afford him any favours.
4. Bella Nipotina (12)
Price: $9.00
They don’t come much tougher than Bella Nipotina and proving that age is just a number, the seven old Pride of Dubai mare continues to perform well at the highest level.
After racing consistently throughout the Autumn, she recorded a well-deserved Group One victory in the Doomben 10000, the second of her career before narrow seconds in both the Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.
She was the horse everyone wanted to cheer for in the Tattersall’s Tiara and she proved too good. Her lead up runs into this have been brilliant and she was unlucky not to have won the Premiere Stakes last start.
She’s certainly capable of winning this and any rain will only enhance her chances, but she will need luck from barrier twelve.
5. I Am Me (1)
Price: $17.00
I Am Me comes here in career best form having won two of the main lead up races.
She was brilliant when resuming in the Concorde Stakes, charging through late to grab the lead and hold out the fast finishing Bella Nipotina and backed up that performance in The Shorts with another determined effort to hold out the challengers after hitting the front 200m from home.
With three weeks since her last run, she’s been kept up to the mark with a 1030m trial and whilst she’s only just scraped home over the shorter trips her record over 1200m is excellent and she remains unbeaten in two goes at this track and distance.
The inside draw is a big advantage and she’s sure to make her presence felt.
6. Stefi Magnetica (6)
Price: $14.00
Stefi Magnetica worked her way from a Wellington Maiden to a Stradbroke Handicap in under twelve months and will now start as a live chance in an Everest.
The All Too Hard mare did a lot wrong early on in her career but she’s managed to iron out those kinks and has well and truly proven herself a class racehorse.
She put the writing on the wall back in March with a brilliant effort in the Surround Stakes to finish a narrow second and she came back better again last preparation, which saw her take out Queensland’s biggest race.
Her first up performance in The Shorts was nothing short of brilliant, powering home in limited room to go down by the only a head.
With a month since that run, she’s been given a tick over trial and she’ll appreciate getting out over that bit further.
7. Sunshine In Paris (8)
Price: $10.00
Sunshine In Paris staked her claimed for this event with an impressive first up victory in the Sheraco Stakes.
Prepared by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, the Invader mare has continued to perform consistently at a high level throughout her ten start career and looks to still be improving.
Beaten less than a length in the TJ Smith Stakes at her second up run last prep holds in her in good stead here and with five weeks since that first up win, she’s been given a trial to keep her up to mark.
She has drawn a touch awkward but with luck in running, she’s sure to be strong late.
8. Joliestar (4)
Price: $6.00
Joliestar has put together a very tidy record in a short time and there looks to be plenty more in store for the daughter of Zoustar.
She brought up her first Group One win at her fifth race start when victorious in the Thousand Guineas and returned in the Autumn for just one run where she saluted in the Arrowfield Sprint. Given plenty of time, she resumed in fine style to take out the Show County Quality with ease and was solid through the line last time to finish third in the Sheraco.
She also has been given a trial since her start in the Sheraco Stakes and she’s drawn to get the right run here.
9. Growing Empire (7)
Price: $8.00
Growing Empire is a very smart colt on the rise and he has continued to improve with each outing.
The son of Zoustar was only narrowly denied on debut before going on to make it four straight, all of which have been at stakes grade.
He took the step to the Group One level last start lining up in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes and looked the winner for a long way before being nabbed right on the line by his more experienced stablemate.
There’s no doubting his ability and he will continue to improve as he’s still very raw, he will need to do everything spot on to be winning here and I think he’s certainly capable.
Ciaron Maher will have him primed and Kerrin McEvoy goes aboard as he looks for his fourth Everest success.
10. Traffic Warden (2)
Price: $7.00
Traffic Warden kicked off his Spring preparation in style with a determined win in the Run To The Rose.
He backed up that performance with another gritty display, charging home in the Golden Rose to just be nabbed on the line by stablemate Broadsiding.
The Street Boss colt has always shown plenty of natural talent but looks to have come back bigger and better this time in.
He comes back to 1200m but I don’t think that’ll worry him and with barrier two he’s set to enjoy a cosy run and we know he’ll be strong late
11. Storm Boy (5)
Price: $13.00
Storm Boy could not have been more impressive when resuming in the San Domenico Stakes.
The much-hyped son of Justify lived up to exceptions as he posted a brilliant all-the-win win in slick time but he has been run down late in two subsequent starts.
Successful in his first four raceday appearances, he was sent out favourite in the Golden Slipper but it all came undone early as he stepped away slow and looked a bit lost in between runners in the straight.
He’s highly talented but a hard one to line up as he seemingly needs everything to go his way.
The high pressure of this race could either make or break him.
12. Lady Of Camelot (11)
Price: $46.00
The Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot, will start as the outsider of the field but I wouldn’t be putting a line through her.
The Written Tycoon filly returned with a very encouraging effort in the Moir Stakes but was a bit plain last start in the Shorts.
I’m always happy to forgive a fair second up run and she’ll certainly appreciate steeping up to 1200m.
She looks on target following a very pleasing win trial win last week and gets in with the featherweight of 51kgs but barrier eleven will make it tough.
13. Overpass (1st Em)
Price: $51.00
Overpass will kick off his preparation, but it’ll more than likely be in the Sydney Stakes as he currently sits as the first emergency.
Now a group one winner, having taken out the Winterbottom Stakes late last year, the Bjorn Baker trained gelding often flies under the radar, but he’s raced at the top level throughout his career and has produced some terrific performances.
His first up record is particularly impressive and he lines up off two very pleasing 900m trial wins.
Josh Parr has formed a great affinity with the six year old and he’ll again do the steering.
14. Think About It (2nd Em)
Price: $67.00
Think About It sits as a second emergency and is unlikely to get his chance to retain his Everest title.
The Joe Pride trained gelding lined up here last year off an eight-win streak which including two Group One victories in during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and a first up win in the Premiere Stakes.
He hasn’t won since but it’s hard to knock him as he has had genuine excuses and an attempt to stretch him out over further during the Autumn went awry.
15. Southport Tycoon (3rd Em)
Price: $51.00
Southport Tycoon is the third emergency and is highly unlikely to take his place here.
The Australian Guineas winner couldn’t have been more impressive with his first up win in the Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes and off the back of back of that performance you’d have to think he could have been a live chance in this year’s The Everest.
16. Mazu (4th Em)
Price: $61.00
Mazu, the fourth emergency and he’s long odds to gain a start in what would have been his third Everest appearance.
Appreciating the soft conditions in 2022, he finished off strongly into third but only managed to beat one runner home last year although he didn’t have the best of luck.
A Doomben 10000 winner, he’s a very talented galloper on his day and he’s been terrific in both runs this prep, but we’ll be seeing him start in the Sydney Stakes.
Selections:
1st – I Wish I Win
2nd – Bella Nipotina
3rd – Growing Empire
4th – Sunshine In Paris