The Everest: A Week of Action

It’s been a week full of developments in the lead-up to the world’s richest turf race, the A$20 million ($13.2 million) Everest at Randwick Oct. 18.

To put it briefly, four horses have had starts confirmed in the six-furlong slot race, one has been withdrawn, two local runners won well last weekend, and the foreign-based favorite came away from his first Sydney barrier trial with a few question marks about his readiness.

In last week’s column, we noted that Godolphin, Coolmore, Mulberry Racing, and Inglis were still to confirm their representatives. All four have now done so.

Godolphin decided to go with the filly Tempted. Third, when favored in the Golden Slipper (G1) in March, the Street Boss filly won on her three-year-old debut in the six-furlong Run To Rose (G2) Sept. 13 before running third in the seven-furlong Golden Rose (G1) Sept. 27. Three-year-olds have won two of the eight runnings of this race, and Tempted is not without a chance.

Coolmore is one of the most powerful racing organisations in the world, but interestingly, they chose a horse they didn’t own to fill their slot. They chose Stradbroke (G1) winner War Machine, who returned to racing in style when winning the Gilgai (G2) in Melbourne despite topweight of 60kg (about 132 pounds). His best chance is probably with a strong pace.

Mulberry Racing’s choice, their own horse Jedibeel, also ran last Saturday, albeit more modestly. He made ground late to finish fourth in the Premiere (G2) at Randwick, but the Savabeel gelding is likely to be at long odds for the big race.

Inglis lost their previous slot-holder, Skybird, to injury last week and chose to replace her this week with Magic Time, owned by Yulong Investments. The Hellbent mare has won twice at Group 1 level, both times at seven furlongs, and was recently third in the six-furlong Manikato (G1).

Yulong now has two runners in the race: Magic Time and Angel Capital, who, like War Machine, is by Harry Angel. Yulong is now in the odd position of having two horses running for other slot holders while not having their own slot filled. This is because their planned runner, Private Harry, was lame after the Premiere, fading to fifth, and has been pulled out.

The Premiere did confirm that its first two home, Briasa and Jimmystar, are strong contenders. Briasa was a stylish winner, while Jimmystar mounted his usual strong late finish for second. Briasa looks the stronger Everest contender, with Jimmystar likely to need a very fast pace to make his late-rallying style count.

However, there was probably less interest in Saturday’s actual races from an Everest perspective than there was in a Monday barrier trial. Hong Kong visitor Ka Ying Rising had his first Australian hitout against other horses, and ended up a close third to the miler Linebacker and another Everest runner, Overpass.

Some people expected more of Ka Ying Rising, and his jockey Zac Purton and trainer David Hayes both said he’d improve with the trial. But Purton at no point asked Ka Ying Rising for his best, and fellow Everest contenders Joliestar and Angel Capital were much further back. 

If there is further improvement to come, Ka Ying Rising will be a worthy favorite.