Erin to hit peak at Everest
SOFTLY spoken Erin Holland has spent a week resting her voice so she’s not sounding “horse” for The Everest this weekend.
The 29-year-old classically trained singer, from Cairns, will be donning a touch of blue and white when she sings the national anthem on Saturday before the big race in Sydney.
“Everyone keeps saying ‘you’re opening for Liam Payne’,” she said, referring to the One Direction star’s free concert at Royal Randwick in Sydney, “and I’m like ‘yeah I like that, I’ll take it’.”
The former Cairns State High School student was crowned Miss World Australia in 2013.
As for her tips for the big race: “Redzel is my pick because red has been my favourite colour.
“I’ve had the most luck looking at the horse names and picking one I most identify with.”
IN Her Time is one of the early race favourites, Graff has the X-factor, and Le Romain is the big-race specialist — and the trio all handle rain-affected tracks.
Kris Lees trains all three sprinters and seems to have the bases covered going into the $13 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Lees said the likelihood of a heavy track for The Everest shouldn’t pose too many difficulties for his three sprinters.
“In Her Time has won on soft going in The Galaxy but I think the track was worse than the (official) rating (soft 6) because it was downgraded after the race,’’ Lees said.
“Graff gets through the heavy although he would probably prefer a soft track. He did run well in the heavy in the Run To The Rose (second to Lean Mean Machine) but I’m not sure he was all that comfortable in the going. He’s only got 53kg so that will help.
“As for Le Romain, he’s a warhorse and loves it wet.’’
Le Romain is the rank outsider of The Everest field at $21 but Lees said the three-time Group 1 winner was a definite winning chance.
“He has a better 1200m record than what people perceive,’’ Lees said.
“I remember he was unlucky in a Doomben 10,000 (third to English), he has had a couple of wins at 1200m and a Group 1 win at 1300m in the Canterbury Stakes.
“With the wet track it will now be a testing 1200m which will suit him. The wide barrier I don’t think is that bad for him either as he should be able to cruise across and settle on the speed.’’
The Everest market changed slightly yesterday with Santa Ana Lane, Trapeze Artist and Vega Magic sharing favouritism at $7 while Shoals eased slightly from co-favouritism to $7.50.
In Her Time, who finished the closest of thirds to Santa Ana Lane and Shoals in track record time in the Premiere Stakes last start also eased from $9 to $11.
However, Lees didn’t hesitate when asked to nominate the horse to beat in The Everest.
“With the wet track and a bit of pace out of the race, I would say Redzel might be the one,’’ Lees said.