IN terms of its history The Everest is still only an infant but it’s already the race that is garnering the focus of racing enthusiasts for the spring.
The Everest after only six editions now sits alongside the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup as the race trainers want to win more than any others and the race punters want to talk about.
And the seventh running of The Everest at Randwick on October 14 which will be worth $20 million at this stage promises to be the race of the spring.
With the retirement of Anamoe, Victorian sprinters I Wish I Win and Giga Kick sit as Australia’s top two horses in world rankings and they are both headed to The Everest.
In a boon for Moonee Valley, that pair will clash in the McEwen Stakes on September 9 though.
In years gone by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman may have targeted the Cox Plate as I Wish I Win’s main spring goal, but the T.J Smith Stakes winner will instead be set for The Everest.
Then the horse who is next best Think About It, the winner of nine of his ten starts is also headed there.
Throw in Nature Strip and In Secret and there’s going to be a stack of interest. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott are hoping Alcohol Free can gain a ticket in and Mick Price has declared his unbeaten What You Need will also be set for it.
PlayUp has last year’s winner Giga Kick favourite at $3.60 with I Wish I Win second favourite at $4.60.
