Is The Everest better than the Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper? The suggestion came from Leslie Bridge, the livewire daughter of trainer Les Bridge, who climbed the mountain of gold with Classique Legend in 2020.
Of course, her father had also won the Golden Slipper with Sir Dapper in 1983 and the Melbourne Cup four years later with Kensei, long before the 1200m Randwick sprint bonanza was even imagined.
Following Classique Legend’s triumph, we were dining at a Chinese restaurant – a distance from his old haunt, “Mr Duck’s”, better known as BBQ King in Sussex Street – on ground once occupied by the old Victoria Park racecourse near Kensington.
After nearly choking on the crab and black bean sauce, the realisation of the generation gap became real when Leslie and her brother JJ argued for the modern event.
Clearly they didn’t get the full impact of the Sir Dapper-Kensei era.
Perhaps the Golden Slipper, for green two-year-olds, wasn’t one of my favourite races, but it did produce better youngsters when Sir Dapper scored than the modern chapters. Like The Everest, it boomed with a captive audience. Two-year-olds had become the flavour of the era.
True, Kensei wasn’t a major Melbourne Cup winner, but was testimony to the trainer’s horse sense and the superb navigation of Larry Olsen. Kensei wouldn’t make the top 10 horses prepared by Bridge, but the Big One in the 80s had more national appeal. Sure, the imported horses have enhanced the standard of stayers, but it took away the local intrigue, which fortunately had a resurgence last year with Verry Elleegant.
Kerrin McEvoy salutes as Classique Legend bolts away with The Everest in 2020.Credit:Getty
However, the Melbourne Cup is still the race that stops a nation. Tradition and memories cannot be purchased, regardless of the prizemoney.
Even before The Everest, some didn’t regard the Melbourne Cup as Australia’s best race. The Golden Slipper had supporters but to me it hardly rated with the Doncaster and Cox Plate, then and now my quinella of the best.
Certainly no race has been promoted like The Everest, not even the Golden Slipper. Previous top races didn’t need any promotion. Still, it could be argued the extravagance has been well spent and has encouraged a different demographic to Sydney racecourses.
Terry Henderson, the playmaker behind OTI Racing, told me at the recent Sandown Sunday he would have more horses in Sydney because the crowd were much younger than in Melbourne.
Les Bridge, trainer of the winner Classique Legend, watches The Everest by himself from the mounting yard.Credit:Adam Pengilly
Maybe the fun lovers at Royal Randwick on Saturday will be there more for the booze than a bet, but hopefully the equine magnificence of Nature Strip, the hero of Royal Ascot, and others will catch their fancy.
Nature Strip has been a world beater, achieving the highest international accolade. Black Caviar was better than Nature strip, but those two are the best that have ever graced Randwick since the first race there in 1860 with a grandstand that accommodated 700. The Australian Turf Club now boasts the Winx Stand – but the attraction of of Nature Strip is more tempting.
Despite his brilliance, Nature Strip will be having more than an exhibition gallop. The scintillating James McDonald is also worthy of a visit to Randwick on Saturday, and produces wonderful touch on the eight-year-old speedster. It was necessary when the gelding won The Everest last year in which Classique Legend, was a gallant fifth in what was a thrilling finish, featuring Masked Crusader, Lost And Running and Eduardo, worthy rivals again for the hot favourite.
Like Classique Legend in 2020 The Everest this year will produce wonderful memories. But is it Australia’s best race?
That’s a matter of taste. “Mr Duck’s”, too, was hard to beat.
