There is a $1 million on the line in group 2 The Shorts but those with contenders for The Everest will quickly tell you it is not the grand final; that comes in October.
Nature Strip, Eduardo, Lost And Running, Mazu and Masked Crusader have all secured slots for the $15 million Everest and will face a stellar support cast in The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday looking to get a place in the world’s richest turf race.
Nature Strip takes The Everest last year with Masked Crusader, Eduardo and Lost And Running in his wake.Credit:Getty
Masked Crusader is the longest price of the Everest-bound runners at $18 and probably the least favoured by the 1100m journey of The Shorts given his get-back style, even though he won at the trip first up.
“He was ready to go in the Concorde Stakes, however we are glad we decided not to run on that track,” co-trainer Michael Hawkes said. “He looks great but he will improve from the outing.”
Classique Legend will take his first step toward The Everest again after a 12-month injury lay-off and only has to stay in one piece to take the slot of his owner, Bon Ho.
The winner of The Everest in 2020 is rated a $14 chance by bookmakers for his first outing since The Everest last year, where he finished fifth and suffered a serious tendon injury.
“He has pleased us and he was good the other day at the trials,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy said. “He is still getting there fitness-wise, but we are expecting a good competitive run on Saturday.
“The talent is still there. It is just about getting him to show he is overcoming the injury. He still has the engine there, but he needs a couple of runs to tune up.”
Randwick trainer John O’Shea takes Lost And Running ($9) to The Shorts hoping for a better performance than last year, when he dropped out to run last.
Sam Clipperton and Mazu return after winning the Doomben 10,000.
“We want to go home thinking we don’t have far to make up, but he is stronger and continues to get better,” O’Shea said.
The Snowden stable has emerging four-year-old Mazu on the third line of betting at $7. He was won his past six on end concluding with the group 1 Doomben 10,000 for an unbeaten first campaign as a gelding.
Sam Clipperton likes what he has felt from the son of Maurice since he returned to work.
“He is as ready as he can be, but there is still good improvement to come,” Clipperton said. “He is a very relaxed horse now and it wouldn’t surprise me if he came and gave them a scare.
“He always improves through a preparation, but he is up with the big boys now.”
However, they all have to beat Eduardo, who has the benefit of winning the Concorde Stakes two weeks ago, and the defending Everest champion, Nature Strip.
“He won this race last year and ran really well when second the year before, and I think 1100m is a really good trip for him,” trainer Joe Pride said of Eduardo, which is the $4 second favourite.
“He is on target, but we all have to beat Nature Strip.”
Chris Waller has Nature Strip back from his King’s Stand win at Royal Ascot ready to stay at the top of the sprinting ranks, where he is the undisputed champion after winning The Everest, the VRC Sprint and TJ Smith last season.
He was blooming in his coat when he galloped between races at Rosehill last week and is still getting better.
“I think his action has improved in the past 12 months, and that’s why he likes the good tracks rather than wet tracks these days,” Waller said.
Eduardo (left) leaves Nature Strip in his wake in one of their clashes.Credit:Getty
“He has a beautiful straight action and just likes to run on top of the ground.
“But he has to come out and prove it again.”
The joker in the deck might $15 chance Overpass for trainer Bjorn Baker, who wants to showcase him for a slot in The Everest.
“We have to prove he can match these horses so someone gives us a slot,” Baker said. “We will be going out there to do just that.
“That’s why we have been so positive in his trial wins, as you have seen, but trials aren’t races.”
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