It will come down to chasing the dream or the money when the last few Everest slots are filled in the next month.
The major contenders have already been snapped up and with Aquis, Coolmore and Godolphin likely to fill their slots with their own horses, it leaves Inglis, James Harron and James Kennedy searching for sprinters. They might find that connections will be choosing an easier option than taking on the likes of Nature Strip and Eduardo.
The presence of Nature Strip has owners looking at other options to running in The Eervest this springCredit:Getty
Even though the Everest boasts a $15 million prize pool, owners have to split any prizemoney with the slot-holder, making other races against easier opponents more attractive.
The winner of the Sydney Stakes on Everest day will earn more than $1m, which doesn’t have to be split with a slot-holder, and even the minor prizemoney is attractive as opposed to doing a deal.
One major owner told the Herald, “I will get a horse in if I want to, but you look at the different races and there are a lot easier options than running in a race you can’t win.”
With the Everest attracting the biggest names, trainers are targeting the Moir Stakes and Manikato Stakes in Melbourne, as well as the Sydney Stakes, because of the lack of top-class opposition.
Racing NSW has created $40 million of new races in the spring in the past five years since the first Everest, but the old adage “keep yourself in the best company and your horse in the worst” is starting to play a role.
The program should be looked at with a view to filtering horses into The Everest. Running the Sydney Stakes a week earlier would supply a last chance to grab an empty Everest slot.
The other move would be having a 1400m lead-up race three weeks out, between The Shorts and the Premiere Stakes, to give horses another option to get The Everest. It would also be a week before the Epsom, giving an option to back up in the major spring mile.
The spring carnival might carry more than $60 million in stakes, but races like the Golden Rose, Epsom and Metropolitan, which carry history and tradition, have been forgotten in the rush to create something shiny and new.
The Golden Rose is worth half the Coolmore Stud Stakes in Melbourne – an unforgivable oversight. The Epsom is worth less than a Villiers Stakes, now called the Ingham – a disgrace for a race that has Winx, Happy Clapper, Theseo and Racing To Win on its honour roll this century alone.
Racing is built on tradition and the Sydney spring is building its own legacy, but the past shouldn’t be discarded. It should be honoured.
Portelli stars look to run one-two
Gary Portelli could have split Golden Slipper winner Fireburn and Serjardan, but has opted for the pair to clash in the Run To The Rose at Rosehill on Saturday.
“It is the best program for both of them,” Portelli said. “We thought of running Fireburn in the Furious [Stakes] but I’m pretty happy we didn’t on that really heavy track. They have both been good in the lead-up in their trials, and it would be a nice race to go one-two in.”
Fireburn was confirmed as two-year-old of the year on Saturday night and Portelli is looking to add to her group 1 resume in the spring.
“It is a great honour to get that title but we are looking forward to showing that she can be a filly which is at the top of her generation at three as well,” he said.
Serjardan already has a Breeders’ Plate, Golden Gift and Todman Stakes on a resume that only needs a group 1 to secure a place on a stallion roster.
“He deserves to get that group 1 and that’s what we are looking to do with him. He’ll get a few chances at it in the spring. The way he has come back he could that that job done,” Portelli said.
JJ Atkins runner-up Political Debate will also return in the Run To The Rose and had a track gallop at Randwick on Saturday.
“I think he has come back well and the Guineas will be his main target but if we can keep the speed in him I think he can be competitive in a Golden Rose,” trainer Chris Waller said.
Board positions open at Racing NSW
The Minister for Hospitality and Racing, Kevin Anderson, advertised three director’s positions on the Racing NSW board last month with an expression of interest closing on September 12.
The advertisement stated the three positions were “upcoming vacancies”, even though one of the positions has not been filled since December last year after former police commissioner Mick Fuller was forced to pull out from taking a director role on eve of being appointed earlier in the year.
Tony Shepard and Simon Tuxen are coming to the end of their appointed terms in December this year, but both men are likely to be reappointed to the board with several years left until they reach the statutory limit of 12 years on the board.
