Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton will make his Everest debut in Godolphin blue aboard In Secret at Randwick on October 14.
Purton will fly into Sydney for Everest day, where he was already booked for Light Infantry in the King Charles III Stakes, and is excited to finally be part of the biggest day of racing in Sydney.
Zac Purton will ride In Secret for Godolphin in The Everest next month. Credit: Bradley Photos
“I have watched this race build for the past six years and have wanted to be part of it and this is my first opportunity to come back for it,” Purton said.
“On television, the atmosphere comes through as electric, and I can remember during Covid watching it and saying this is amazing, I just want to be there.
“It has quickly become one of the races every jockey in the world wants to ride in. To get a ride for Godolphin in it, on one of the best sprinters in Australia for the 12 months, means I’m coming down on a real winning chance.
“It didn’t take me long to say yes when James rang and asked me to ride In Secret and he looks to have timed her preparation perfectly to peak at 1200m in a couple of weeks.”
Godolphin trainer James Cummings confirmed the booking, with Purton’s experience winning out over his apprentice Zac Lloyd.
“Our Zac was in discussions right up to the end, which is a credit to what he has achieved in such a short time,” Cummings said. “But when you can get a jockey with the experience of Zac Purton in one of the biggest of races of the year, it won the day.
“We have had In Secret at the top of our Everest list from the start of the preparation and even though she hasn’t won her two runs, they have been excellent building toward The Everest and the 1200m, which is her best trip.”
In Secret was strong late when third behind Remarque in the Concorde Stakes, before missing a run halfway down the straight in The Shorts, when she was once again strong to the line when beaten just over a length into fourth by Private Eye.
Godolphin’s announcement leaves four slots open for the $20 million race, with Yulong, Coolmore, Chris Waller and the James Harron syndicate yet to decide their runners.
The Everest remains on the agenda for Chris Waller’s Golden Slipper winner Shinzo.Credit: Getty
Yulong will use the Premiere Stakes to test the Everest credentials of its $10 million mare Alcohol Free, while Coolmore will wait to see how Golden Slipper winner Shinzo pulls up after being lame following his ninth in the Golden Rose.
It is understood Shinzo had a heel problem coming out of the Golden Rose. Waller’s stable will assess it during the week and The Everest remains on the agenda.
Harron is looking for another runner after defending champion Giga Kick was spelled because of injury on Saturday.
Williamsburg on the Ellsberg path to Epsom
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou will try to swoop in late and take another Epsom at Randwick on Saturday, with Williamsburg set to follow in the footprints of Ellsberg 12 months ago
Ryan and Alexiou were doing the numbers after Williamsburg was a game second to Cepheus in Saturday’s Shannon Stakes and believe he should squeeze into the field for Saturday’s big spring mile.
“We always had the Epsom on the radar with him,” Alexiou said. “Much like last year with Ellsberg, we just need to see if we can get in the race. It worked out great with Ellsberg [when he dead-heated with Top Rank to win the Epsom].
“We were very happy with him on the weekend and we think the big track at Randwick and the pressure of a big mile will be perfect for Williamsburg, and it would be great if we can get a splash of rain for him.
“We should get a couple of [benchmark] points for Saturday and that might be enough to get a run. The Epsom has been the right way to get the Golden Eagle in the past.”
It doesn’t appear likely the Epsom will attract a full field with Shannon third-placed Waterford also set to back-up with Zac Lloyd in the saddle.
Benaud’s year wait for the Metrop
John O’Shea has had to wait 12 months to get Benaud to the race he thought was his in 2022.
The grey five-year-old was the Metropolitan favourite last year, only for a race week treatment issue to force him to be withdrawn.
“That was hard to take because we had put a lot of planning into that race and everything had gone perfectly,” O’Shea said. “But we are here again with a horse in peak form that is looking for the 2400m.
“We have to beat a very good horse of Gai [Waterhouse] and Adrian [Bott’s] but we know our bloke will run the trip right out as a derby runner-up at Randwick.”
Benaud won the Wyong Cup before chasing home Metrop favourite Just Fine in near record time over the Randwick 2000m in the Kingston Town Stakes a couple of weeks ago.
“Benaud has had a solid grounding and we have booked Jamie Kah to come and ride him at the 51½ kilos on Saturday,” O’Shea said “If there are any chinks in the armour of the favourite, he will find them.”
Kah will also ride the O’Shea-trained Lost And Running in the Premiere Stakes
Kimochi ready to take flight in grand final
Gary Portelli knew from the start of the preparation that he would be giving up an advantage to Kimochi’s rivals until she got to the 1600m of the Flight Stakes on Saturday.
The Brave Smash filly was a flashing third in the Silver Shadow Stakes before being runner-up to Flight favourite Tiz Invincible in the Furious Stakes and the Tea Rose Stakes, where Kimochi was three-wide the trip.
But it has her in peak form for the group 1.
“We knew that we had a miler and everything was to get to this point and with every run she has got better,” Portelli said. “It’s the grand final we want to win and we are confident it might be her turn on Saturday. If you win the grand final no one remembers how you got there.”
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