The Everest Tips & Predictions 2026: Best Bets

There’s zero value in the defending Everest hero, KA YING RISING (11), returning down under to go back-to-back in the $20 million showdown, but it is really hard to tip against the world’s fastest horse.

His price has eased out slightly after he drew wide out in gate 11, but that shouldn’t present an issue with the alley already producing an Everest winner in Bella Nipotina (2024).

Zac Purton travels to stick in the saddle of the iconic Shamexpress gelding, and he’ll cross from the gate and be at the front giving them something to chase.

He hasn’t been defeated since January of 2024 and is looking down the barrel of his 22nd straight victory – that’s some record.

The Hong Kong champion faces a similar The Everest field to the one he easily accounted for 12 months ago, and he’s going even better for his title defence looking to become the second dual winner in the race’s history.

At his latest it was a demolition job with Ka Ying Rising putting a silly seven lengths on an easier grade of rivals in the Group 3 Chief Executive’s Cup at Sha Tin with 61kg on his back.

His 1200m strike-rate is ridiculous (22:20-2-0), he’s gifted by the weight conditions back to 58.5kg and he won the race at the same stage of his prep in 2025.

Those wanting to tip against the favourite got a little glimmer of hope when he was beaten by Ninja in a Randwick hit-out on October 6, but he wasn’t there to prove anything, just kept ticking over and trainer David Hayes was bullish about his performance.

Can win with authority again.

TEMPTED (1) has been a long-time second favourite in The Everest betting out to go one better than her distant but brave second to Ka Ying Rising as a 3YO filly last spring.

Ciaron Maher’s now four-year-old Street Boss mare has matured over the past year and comes in fit, strong and firing on all cylinders ready for the rematch.

Her record at the track and trip is outstanding (6:5-1-0) with her only 1200m Randwick loss being the aforementioned Everest 2nd in 2025.

Tempted’s lead-up as been flawless as she’s won all five of her subsequent runs since this race last season including eye-catching performances in the Group 2 Concorde Stakes and Premiere Stakes this prep.

She had nearly three lengths to spare over fellow Everest contender Savvy Hallie in a blistering Premiere victory which she did from a wide gate.

Third-up now she’s been gifted with the inside The Everest barrier draw, the same gate she started from last year.

Chad Schofield continues associations and has he’s undefeated on her back.

She’s taken things up a notch since her defeat and gets conditions to suit.

The obvious danger and will go close.

Outside of the dominant duo in The Everest markets are a host of excellent sprinters and livewire place chances, but ultimately to fill the minors I’ve landed on the gun young filly and sole 3YO in the mix, BLUE DOOR (9).

Bjorn Baker’s untapped daughter of Stay Inside faces an acid test now thrown in the deep end for her maiden Group 1 assignment at just her fifth start, but she’s already shown glimpses of brilliance and gets her chance to put her hand up now as a sprint star in the making.

We all saw what Tempted did as a filly in this race last year and, while she brought in more experience than Blue Door, I don’t think this one should be underestimated.

Beat home The Next Episode here on debut back in April at Group 3 level, then came out firing for back-to-back seconds against the boys first and second-up this prep in The Rosebud and San Domenico respectively.

Got back in winning form with a very speedy effort to claim the Group 3 Heritage Stakes (1100m) by 2.2 lengths at Rosehill on September 26 which earned her The Everest slot.

The raw speed and blistering sectionals she produced were huge, and she was simply too fast and too good.

Gets in here on a postage stamp weight of just 51kg, and she’ll be airborne with that.

A jockey change see’s last year’s historic Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double winning hoop Jamie Melham come aboard after she turned down the ride on Half Yours in Melbourne as he defends his title in the opening leg of the Spring Cups double – and that’s a telling sign.

She’ll be up there fighting for the lead with Ka Ying and oozes X-Factor.

Has been forgotten in the markets against a better tested and more experienced line-up, but at $27 (at time of publish) and with that big weight drop she’s worth including in The Everest exotics.

• To Win – No. 1 Ka Ying Rising
• Top 3 – No. 9 Tempted
• Top 4 – No. 12 Blue Door

KA YING RISING (11) to win is the anchor of my The Everest Same Race Multi, with the world’s top sprinter chasing back-to-back victories and looking simply too good for his rivals despite the wide draw.

TEMPTED (1) for a Top 3 finish looks a safe inclusion after her unbeaten 2026 campaign, with the in-form mare drawing perfectly in barrier one as she bids to turn the tables on the reigning champion.

BLUE DOOR (9) for a Top 4 finish adds the value, with the exciting three-year-old getting right in under the weights and bringing genuine X-factor after her explosive Heritage Stakes victory.