The Everest is the world’s richest sprint race and has assembled an outstanding field befitting the rich purse on offer. It will be run at Randwick this Saturday at 4.15pm.
What can you say? The champion sprinter of Australia and of the world, and he only seems to be getting better with age. He has to overcome the wide draw but I prefer him out there as opposed to in say, barrier one. Looks nigh on unbeatable and $2.15 in early betting is an entirely fair price.
Finished third in this last year. Boasts a couple of wins over Nature Strip but they have all come over distances shorter than the 1200m over which they meet here. If he was going to upset him here, he needed to run him closer in the Shorts over 1100m.
Ran fourth in this last year. Fell in to win the Premiere here, one of the two key lead ups to this race but what looks to be the weaker of the two. Very smart sprinter and easy to see why he is second pick.
Ran second in this race last year and despite that, seems the forgotten horse. Made up good ground in the Premiere Stakes – in the inferior ground – which suggests he is capable of running a big race once again. The issue with him, as always, is that he will get back to near last but look out late. Overs.
Had a good run as a late three year old with three straight wins including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000. Ran a good race last time to be nosed out in the Premiere but suspect that’s not the right form for this.
Thumped a mediocre Group 2 field in Melbourne first up but this is another level altogether. Probably at his absolute best over 1400m to 1600m and one I am happy to risk.
Ran second to Nature Strip first up but the usual story with him is that he is 2-3 lengths off the top horses and expecting that to remain the case here.
The Godolphin team is absolutely airborne at present but if they can win this race with this horse there should be a forensic examination into what the hell is going on.
Won a Benchmark 70 – a midweek race – at Flemington last time and his presence in the field is, frankly, laughable. Has early speed so might be able to hold the lead, but not for long.
$81 into $41 since betting began, but I don’t see it myself. Yes, she is building a strong record with seven wins from nine starts but this is a massive jump in class and she will struggle.
Won the Golden Rose in scintillating fashion but he is looking for more ground, not less. Would have been a complete moral in the Caulfield Guineas but he will be an also ran here.
Scraped in to win a pretty ordinary Group 2 last start at Flemington and while he is unbeaten, this looks far too big an ask at this stage of his career.
Best Bet
No need to overthink this, Nature Strip is more than backable at his current price, and Masked Crusader is the other with an appeal at his present odds.
