It’s come around again, the biggest thing to shake up Australian racing in years, and while it may not be a Group 1 and though two of the best sprinters in these here parts won’t be there, the stage is set for a gripping seventh running of The Everest on Saturday.
With a prizemoney bump this year of $5 million – more than what 99 per cent of races themselves are worth – the Randwick sprint has a total purse of $20 million, making it Australia’s richest race and the most lucrative on turf on the planet. (The Saudi Cup — trust them again — on dirt is worth a bit more.)
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EVEREST 2023: WINNERS AND LOSERS FROM THE BARRIER DRAW
Gold Trip storms home in Turnbull stakes | 00:47
There’s another difference, too, mind you. The Everest has a gimmicky format, in which 12 entities chip in $700,000 to own a position, or “slot”, in the race – which adds up to $8.4 million.
Like choosing a dance partner, they then nominate a horse to fill their slot, and seek to complete a deal with that horse’s owners. Such as: “We’ve put up the $700k, let’s split the prizemoney 60-40”.
It could be 40-60, 50-50, or whatever. When first prize is $7 million, with a $600,000 diamond encrusted trophy on top – or over the top – to push the old saying of “more is more”, the winners will be rolling in it whatever the split.
Second receives $2.9 million, and third takes home $2m (so if you’ve stumped up $700k, you’d need a 35-65 split to break even). Much has been made of the fact that this year, horses running from seventh to last (12th) earn $700,000, but of course that would still leave their slot holders well behind for their outlay, any split of prizemoney with their horse’s owners. That’s why some slot holders negotiate to receive 100 percent of the money for those running the back half of the field, leaving the race as essentially a “first four or nothing” scenario for owners.
The invitational, not-open-to-all nature of the race also means it can’t qualify for “black type” status – the time-honoured system in which Group 1 sits at the top, as a marker of judging horses’ performance when it comes to breeding and buying their offspring. (Races categorised as Group 1, 2 and 3, for example, are literally listed in black type in yearling sale catalogues, in the rundown to what these sale horses’ ancestors did on the track).
But in any case, this is a race, and a concept, that with all the many tons of hype behind it has seized the attention of the loyal Sydney media, and generated excitement amongst the city’s public, in a short space of time, and which will again unfold at a packed Randwick racecourse this Saturday.
Boom sprinter Imperatriz – who won 12 of 17 races in New Zealand before taking her past three of four in Melbourne – won’t be competing. Despite concerted efforts to lure her connections, they’ve steadfastly maintained they’re not interested, and will chase more Group 1 wins down south.
And last year’s sensational winner Giga Kick isn’t back to defend his crown, due to injury.
But there’s still a high quality field lining up for what is no doubt the richest 70-odd seconds in sport.
These include another boom sprinter called Think About It, who from humble beginnings has won the past 10 of his 11 career starts, I Wish I Win – the horse born with such a wonky leg no one wanted him, but who’s reaped his owner-breeder around $8 million – and another horse called Alcohol Free who cost $10 million herself as a mature horse but has so far been, for her new owners, the downer her name would suggest.
Let’s take a look.
McEvoy hungry for fourth Everest victory | 00:58
WHAT IS IT?
The Everest, a 1200-metre sprint for a maximum field of 12 horses, around Randwick.
It’s held under weight-for-age conditions, the acknowledged drawcard for top-class gallopers, in which weights are allocated according to age rather than on form, as in handicaps like the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Mares carry two kilos less than males in the same age bracket.
And so, we have five-year-old gelding I Wish I Win at the top of the field with 58.5kg, three mares aged four and up who have 56.5kg, and three-year-old males in Shinzo and Cylinder with just 53kg.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
As mentioned, $20 million. Winner earns $7m, second wins $2.9m, and all horses in the second half of the field take home the slot fee – $700,000. It should also be mentioned that this money-fest contributes $100,000 to the Jockey Welfare Fund, and $150,000 to the Equine Welfare Fund, to help look after horses and riders when they’re old or injured.
HOW’S IT WORK?
Copied from the home of all things bold and brash, the USA, The Everest has an unusual entry fee structure. A person, or entity, can decide to become a slot holder, buying said slot (after approval from the authorities) for $700,000, which helps fund the whole thing. So while $700,000 is a lot for running last, it still represents a loss, because …
Having bought their position, slot holders will then invite a horse for filling their spot, and work out with its owners what sort of deal they’ll make for the sharing of spoils. Therefore, the field isn’t brought together by regular means, under long-established patterns, and thus has no Group status. At least, while the first few years brought a few quality questions, the past couple have attracted genuine G1-standard fields.
The said slot holders include breeding and racing industry giants such as Godolphin, Coolmore Stud, the TAB, Arrowfield Stud and The Star casino, and smaller concerns such as James Harron Bloodstock, and trainer Chris Waller, who prepared Winx and has chosen a mare currently in his stable, Espiona.
WHEN’S IT ON?
Race 7 of 10 on the Randwick card, on Saturday at 4:15pm AEDT.
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT?
At the course, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, or on Channel 7, or Sky Racing. Foxsports.com.au will have and updates, including video soon after the race.
MAIN PLOTLINES
The old guard have retired, including great rivals Nature Strip – once the world’s best sprinter and The Everest winner of 2021 – and Eduardo. And the new wave, a brilliant and evenly balanced crop of sprinters, are set to fight for supremacy.
Most of that wave are here, including the two five-year-old geldings scrapping for favouritism, I Wish I Win and Think About It.
I Wish I Win burst onto the Australian scene last August. He’s a remarkable story because he was born with an acutely bent front left leg. This meant he’d never be presentable at a yearling sale, and that fat chequebook-waving buyers from Hong (who routinely raid Australasia for their horses) were also scared away.
So his breeder, Mark Chittick, had to keep him, and he’s become a star. After winning two from nine at home, he switched him to Melbourne and old mate Peter Moody – trainer of the great Black Caviar and many more. He’s won four of eight with him, including the G1 TJ Smith over this same Randwick 1200m last autumn. Oh, and a race called the Golden Eagle at Rosehill last October, which is just worth the cool $10 million, and thus is Australia’s second-richest event.
Chittick isn’t some old Kiwi battler – he runs the famed Waikato Stud farm – but his former ugly duckling who’s now Australia’s highest-rated horse (by official world rankings) is still a great story for the romance of the turf.
Then there’s Think About It, a home-grown sprinting sensation who’s taken the breath away in the past year. He only cost $70,000 as a yearling, which isn’t much at all these days. Prepared by Eduardo’s former trainer, Warwick Farm-based Joe Pride – not one of the bigger trainers but one of racing’s nice guys – Think About it was third at his third start, but has won all 10 of his other races, confirming his specialness with two G1 wins at Brisbane winter carnival this year.
He’s raced by the same Sydney-based syndicators – Proven Thoroughbreds – who also have likely third-favourite Private Eye in the race. It’s a great coup for a syndicator catering mostly for mid-range, bread-and-butter type owners, to have not just two runners but two key chances in the world’s richest race on turf. And this six-year-old, a remarkable competitor who’s won 11 races and close to $7 million, is in this up to his private eyeballs.
Then we’ve got a couple of cracking four-year-old stallions in Buenos Noches and Hawaii Five Oh. Buenos Noches is trained by another modest Warwick Farm bloke in Matthew Smith, and owned by a group of everyday people enjoying the ride. Hawaii Give Oh is from the huge Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable and owned by a couple of non-battlers, in multi-billionaire Gerry Harvey and John “Singo” Singleton. Either colt could well win the $7m first prize, which would be nice for them. But in the process they’d seal lucrative deals to be sold to stud farms to start breeding. Lucrative as in tens of millions of dollars.
Three mares are out to become the first of their gender to win the race: outstanding dual Group 1 winner In Secret, from the Australian wing of Sheikh Mohammed of Dubai’s Godolphin racing empire; Waller’s Espiona, who was a sensation as a younger horse and is striving to reclaim that reputation; and Alcohol Free, who was a quadruple G1 winner in England, was bought last year for an eye-watering $10 million to join the Australian arm of the Chinese-backed Yulong racing and breeding empire, but who’s dudded so far in two starts here.
And finally, there are two three-year-old colts in with a light weight out to upset the older sprinters. Representing the Coolmore empire is their very own Shinzo, who won the world’s richest two-year-old race – Rosehill’s Golden Slipper – last autumn – but flopped the other day in his first run back. The other is Godolphin’s second runner, Cylinder, who was second in the Slipper.
FIRST WINNER
Redzel, in 2017
LAST WINNER
Giga Kick, in 2022
FASTEST WINNER
Yes Yes Yes, 2029 1:07.32 (still Randwick’s 1200m track record)
FORECAST: Fine and sunny, which should mean a track rated as “good”, or dry, meaning another super-slick time.
OTHER MAJOR RACES ON THE UNDERCARD
The King Charles III Stakes – Race 9, 5.35pm. A weight-for-age Group 1 worth $5 million, switched from another date for this year to give this raceday some Group 1 clout. It’s actually the time-honoured George Main Stakes, now named after the King, as it seems V’Landys is a revolutionary who loves the monarch. And though NSW racing’s emperor famously loathes Victorians, one of them is a short priced favourite to take this race. He’s Mr Brightside, who’s coming out of his cage and is doing just fine, and destiny might be calling him, etc etc …
The Kosciuszko (the mini-Everest, if you will) – Race 5, 2.50pm. A set-weights race for country-trained horses, aged three or older, over 1200m, and worth $2 million. Market headed by the very good Scone-trained mare Opal Ridge.
The Silver Eagle – Race 8, 4.50pm. A 1300m event worth a million bucks for four-year-olds; a warm-up for The Golden Eagle (yes, these are all real race names), which is worth $10m. It features Queensland sensation Yellow Brick, the likely favourite, and hot Melbourne mare Benedetta, among others.
The Sydney Stakes – Group 3, 1200m, Race 6, 3:25pm. A weight-for-age race for three-year-olds and upwards. Even though it’s worth $2m, it’s something of a consolation for sprinters not going to the big dance (the metaphorical big dance, not the daftly-named race of that name stuck on at Randwick on Melbourne Cup day). In fact, four of its entrants are the four Everest emergencies sweating on a run in the feature if something else is scratched.
It’s also the glorious Caulfield Guineas day in Melbourne, with that time-honoured stallion-maker of a race set down for 5.10pm, and two other G1s in the Might And Power Stakes and the Toorak Handicap. That’ll be on the telly too, on Channel 7, Sky Racing, and Racing.com.
THE EVEREST FIELD
1. I WISH I WIN (Barrier 1) Approx odds: $5.50/$2.15 (via BlueBet)
FOR: Outstanding sprinter with form on the board in the best company, especially his slashing win over this course and distance in the G1 TJ Smith last autumn. Trainer Peter Moody (now co-trainer with former assistant Katherine Coleman) knows what to do with a top-class sprinter, having prepared the unbeaten phenomenon Black Caviar, and jockey Luke Nolen, who rode her, knows how to steer one. The horse has had only one lead-up run this campaign, a slashing third in a 1400m G1 at Caulfield. That was way back on September 2, so he’s nice and fresh for this sharper sprint, and he can save ground from starting gate No.1. Highest-rated horse in the field (116). AGAINST: Not a lot. But – the inside gate is usually a plus, but this horse tends to settle around the back of the field and fly home. If he’s on the inside of most other horses, this can make it tricky plotting a path in the home straight, when he might be staring at backsides. But in a field restricted to 12 starters – rather than, say, 20 – it’s not as big a hindrance as it could have been. One of several excellent chances.
FOR: He’s perhaps not as glamorous as some, but he just keeps giving and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Tuned up in fine style with a win over 1100m here in a G2 called The Shorts, when resuming from a spell. That had been considered too short for him, even though this six-year-old gelding has been reborn as a specialist sprinter this year, after winning at up to 1600m before. But he left five of today’s rivals in his wake that day. Was also second in this race last year, at a major weight disadvantage to the winner, Giga Kick. Has Nash Rawiller in the saddle, who at present could win on the proverbial broomstick. Equal second-top rated horse in the field (115). AGAINST: Has a tricky barrier, in gate nine. This could mean he’ll be trapped wide and forced to cover more ground than others. But he’s as tough as they come, and has shown he can succeed over a longer trip than this 1200m, so it doesn’t rule him out.
3. THINK ABOUT IT (5) $4.40/$1.85
FOR: Remarkable sprinter who could yet reach phenomenal status. Exploded onto the scene last autumn, starting with a modest restricted-class win at Warwick Farm, and winning seven in a row right up to two G1s in Brisbane. They were over 1300m and 1400m, so you know he has the toughness required in this high-pressure 1200m affair. Has a beautiful gate, from which his jockey should be able to get a great position. Like Private Eye, has a top trainer in Joe Pride, and is also rated 115. AGAINST: Again, not a huge amount, although young-ish jockey Sam Clipperton isn’t known as one of the heaviest hitters, with only five G1s to his name (and only three before this horse’s two in the winter). And if we want to split hairs, the horse could have been more impressive in his only lead-up run this spring campaign. Although a raging favourite, he just held on, over this same 1200m at Randwick, against the fast-finishing Hawaii Five Oh, in a G2 race, and this one is tougher. Still, that was likely a run to blow the cobwebs out, and he’ll no doubt have been trained building up to this grand final. Hard to beat.
FOR: From the team – trainers Peter and Paul Snowden and Triple Crown Syndications – who won the first two Everests with Redzel, and is a three-time winner at the track. AGAINST: Wide barrier, and he’s one of not many in this very even field who actually doesn’t look much hope. He’s a bit of an opposite to I Wish I Win in that he looked a world-beater early on but doesn’t appear the competitor he once was. Has Mazu lost his mojo? He was ninth in The Shorts. Why was he selected? Well, his slot holders, The Star (casino) and Arrowfield Stud, booked him for two straight editions last year. It’s hard to predict the future. That’s racing.
FOR: This 5yo didn’t make it into main plotlines above, but shouldn’t be underestimated. He’ll likely lead and try to cling on for dear life, and he has a great barrier for that, and a good judge of a front-running ride aboard in Josh Parr. He won the inaugural The Quokka – another rich slot race with a strange name – over 1200m in Perth in April doing just that, holding out the new phenom Amelia’s Jewel by a lip. Warmed up with a decent second in The Shorts when collared late. AGAINST: The pressure is always on in an Everest, with so much at stake, and the pace will be cracking. Leading and hanging on in those circumstances is exceptionally hard. He’s also second-up from a spell, and doesn’t have a great record when it comes to that, winning one of five so far. And he hasn’t won in eight goes at Randwick, a track with a testing long straight where it can be hard for leaders to hang on all the way to the post.
6. BUENOS NOCHES (8) $13/$3.80
FOR: Has bundles of talent and a shrewd trainer in Matthew Smith, and showed his liking for this track with a barnstorming first-up win over the same 1200m distance two runs back. Usually settles in the back half, so a barrier which could worry others won’t be such a hindrance, as he can ease back and work across to probably one horse off the rail, giving him room to unleash his usual finishing burst in the straight. AGAINST: Not a huge amount, as he’s a lightly-raced four-year-old going places. But despite that, he has only won three of his nine races, and can mix a strong win with the off fifth or seventh. Also has an apprentice jockey aboard. Dylan Gibbons is a fine young rider, but can’t match several others for experience on this biggest of occasions. Each way.
7. HAWAII FIVE OH (10) $13/$3.80
FOR: From a top stable in Waterhouse-Bott, who in a stunning departure from tradition are currently keeping Chris Waller in only second place on the Sydney trainers’ premiership. So they’re in great touch, as is this horse’s habitual Sydney premiership-winning jockey James McDonald, who won this race two years ago on Nature Strip. As for the horse himself, he’s a big powerful thing who looks cut out to handle the pressure of an Everest. He’s also lightly raced, with 10 starts fore three wins and five placings. This is his sternest test by far, but he showed he was in form by nearly running down Think About It last start. AGAINST: Clearly talented but hasn’t won that many, and hasn’t met a field this strong before. Also has a tricky gate for a horse who’s generally among the front handful. Place hope best.
FOR: Has the Waterhouse-Bott camp behind her, a nice middle barrier from which to look for a good spot, and an experienced jockey in Craig Williams, who’s won 70 G1s and took this race last year on Giga Kick. Was rated one of the world’s best sprinter-milers after winning four G1s in England from 1200m to 1600m before her headline-making purchase to come to Australia last year. AGAINST: Has not lived up to her $10 million price tag in two Australian runs, a 10th last April and fourth of eight behind Think About It last start. Win or placing would surprise.
FOR: Is an outstanding sprinting mare with the hugely successful Godolphin empire polish behind her, headed by their gun young trainer James Cummings. She’d won six of her first nine, including two G1s up the 1200m straight course at Flemington, which requires a toughness that will come in handy here. Has Zac Purton aboard, the Hong Kong-based Australian who’s one of the world’s finest riders. AGAINST: Has looked, on paper, to be a little short of her brilliant best in two runs this campaign. Then again, the 1000m of her first-up run was shorter than she likes, and over 1100m in The Shorts second-up, she was blocked for a run at a key stage early in the straight and worked home well once clear. So she could be a bit over-the-odds here. But she does have the outside gate, which is far from ideal. Each way.
FOR: Prepared by master trainer Chris Waller, and has a lovely inside barrier, and the experienced Hugh Bowman in the saddle. Also came back to winning form last start over 1400m at Rosehill, which gave her three wins from her past five starts. AGAINST: She was a sensation early on, winning her first two races, but has largely struggled to live up to that reputation in the past two years. And yes she won again last start, but it was against fillies and mares in a G2, so far lower quality than this. Can’t have.
FOR: Won the Golden Slipper last autumn to show his class. Has the Waller touch and jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who’s won three of the six Everests on Redzel (2017/18) and Classique Legend (2020). Good inside gate and light weight of just 53kg, as a 3YO under weight-for-age conditions. AGAINST: Shocking first-up run, three weeks ago. Winning the Slipper, especially in such tough fashion as he did, automatically seals a young colt’s future career as a stallion at stud. But many fail to come up again in their following campaign, raising questions about what their Slipper-winning preparation may have taken out of them. That was being asked again when Shinzo resumed with a ninth of 12 in the Golden Rose, a 1400m G1 at Rosehill on September 23. Connections wondered if he should have had a race leading up to that one. We’ll know more after this one, but that was a hard run to overlook when you’re wagering your hard-earned, however irresponsibly.
FOR: The other three-year-old, who was second to Shinzo in Slipper, is rated a better chance than him in this meeting. While Shinzo flopped in the Golden Rose, Cylinder ran a close and meritorious third, showing again how he loves attacking the line in a tough finish. Never runs a bad race, has a great barrier and, again, that light three-year-old’s weight that’s been carried by two of the six winners so far, in Yes Yes Yes in 2019 and Giga Kick only last year. AGAINST: Not a great deal, but again a slight question mark over his jockey. Zac Lloyd has shown great talent, and was Sydney’s leading apprentice last year, but is a youngster facing his toughest assignment today. He’s also put in a couple of wobbly rides lately that may have put his confidence to the test. At least should be able to have his horse in a position to contend from barrier four.
EMERGENCIES
13. BELLA NIPOTINA
14. ZAPATEO
15: KING OF SPARTA
16: VILANA
TIPS: 1. I WISH I WIN; 2. In Secret; 3. Think About It; 4. Private Eye
ENDS
