Snowden supports Everest climb in standings
PETER Snowden admits he was an Everest doubter at the beginning but the Sydney trainer is adamant the $10 million feature is well on track to become a “worldwide race” in years to come.
Snowden felt The Everest “was a bit over the top” when he first heard the concept but he has changed his mind since.
“I think it’s a great (concept) and the more it has gone on I think it has picked up a lot more momentum and even the (television) commercial, I saw it yesterday and I thought it was terrific,” he said.
“It’s going the right way and so I think in years to come it will be a worldwide race that a lot of people target.”
Naturally, The Everest has its knockers with some people arguing the $10 million feature would have attracted the same field for $500,000. But the point lost here is the fact the race doesn’t cost the industry anywhere near $10 million.
The 12 ‘slots’ in the race, sold at $600,000 each, make up $7.2 million of that figure, while Racing NSW is hoping the $2.8 million difference will be derived from extra wagering on the event, sponsorship and other measures.
The Everest has also given NSW racing a major boost by dominating racing headlines in the past few months.
“I think if it was a half-million dollar race we wouldn’t have had the talk we’ve had,” Snowden said.
“I think every horse in the race deserves to be there and they are all quality sprinters in their own right.
“They have all won feature races and there is not a weak link in it.”
Team Snowden will saddle up Redzel in The Everest.