Everyone with Everest ambitions but not a slot knows The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday will establish the pecking order.
It is not as simple as win and you’re in, because of the nature of deals in the world’s most fascinating slots race.
Giga Kick, I Wish I Win, Mazu, Think About It and Sunshine In Paris are the lucky ones secure in the $20million sprint on October 14. The Shorts (1100m) favourite In Secret, Shinzo and Alcohol Free are likely to start in their owners’ slots. That leaves four slots – the ATC, the TAB, Chris Waller and Max Whitby – and seven horses from The Shorts want a part of the action.
Private Eye takes out the Nature Strip Stakes last year. Trainer Joe Pride has him back in top shape this spring.Credit: Getty
Private Eye, Overpass and Lost And Running have been there before; four-year-olds Buenos Noches, Ruthless Dame and Hawaii Five Oh add new blood to the mix; and Concorde Stakes winner Remarque is emerging to fulfil his potential. It will come down to performance and dealing from here.
It is surprising that Private Eye – last year’s Everest runner-up – is still available. He makes his return to the track with a point to prove after an autumn campaign where he was just off his best because of a knee problem.
“He had a problem with bone density in a knee in the autumn. It took us a long time to work out,” trainer Joe Pride said. “I thought there was something wrong in the Newmarket when he was under pressure a long way out because that isn’t him. He still ran a good race but it wasn’t the Private Eye that I knew. I was never quite happy with him the whole preparation. When we found a reason I was happy we did, and he is back to his best now.”
Pride should get the firm track he needs for Private Eye, which has three wins from four on good tracks first up. His only blemish was a fourth behind In Secret in the Newmarket Handicap. Private Eyegoes from giving In Secret 6kilograms in the Newmarket to two kilos at weight-for-age but is still a $10 chance to win The Shorts.
“We have to perform to get our place in The Everest, and that’s the way it should be,” Pride said.
“I think all the slot-holders know what he did last year and just want to see him back in that form.
“I’m very confident Private Eye will have slot-holders ringing on Saturday night.”
Overpass looks to return to The Everest after running sixth behind Giga Kick last year, and trainer Bjorn Baker is confident that he can make all in The Shorts.
“He is a better horse now than last year,” Baker said. “He has won the Quokka and was runner-up in the Doomben 10,000, and we knew we had to be at his top to put on a show. To get a slot you need to be running well and probably winning. That’s what I have had in mind since he came back – to make a statement in The Shorts.
“I think his barrier trials have been perfect and you will see a very good sprinter. It will take a good one to run him down.”
John O’Shea looks to put behind the race morning scratching of Lost And Running from The Everest 12months ago.
“It’s a simple scenario on Saturday: if you run good, people will want you; if you don’t, they won’t,” O’Shea said. “It is D-Day and I’m very happy with my horse.”
Michael Hawkes is relaxed with Remarque: “He’ll be running on Everest day no matter what happens – there is a Sydney Stakes there. If he runs how we expect on Saturday, it will be in The Everest.”
Meanwhile, the Snowden-trained King’s Gambit will push his Everest claims down at Flemington in the Poseidon Stakes. The Golden Slipper placegetter has been in Everest discussions and a thumping win could persuade a slot-holder to take the punt on the I Am Invincible three-year-old.
“We think he wouldn’t be out of place in The Everest,” Paul Snowden said.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
