Dozen Everest runners finalised
RICHEST TURF RACE: WINNER TO GET MORE THAN R60M
Rezel aims for hat-trick in race.
The field for The TAB Everest is complete and it has attracted another cracking line-up of sprinters, headed by the two-time Everest champion Redzel.
The third edition of The Tab Everest - the world's richest turf race – will be run on Saturday at the Royal Randwick course in Sydney, Australia.
The Peter and Paul Snowdentrained Redzel, winner of both the previous Everests, is on track for a hat-trick, but he faces a big challenge from Everest newcomers including Pierata, Sunlight, Arcadia Queen and Irish raider Ten Sovereigns.
Santa Ana Lane is back to improve on his sixth placing in last year’s race as is In Her Time, while rising star Classique Legend, top threeyear-old Yes Yes Yes and speed machine Nature Strip add an Xfactor to the race.
With $14 million (R140 million) in stakes to be won, the winner will receive over $6 million (R60 million) as well as a trophy featuring 7 777 black diamonds.
Each of the 12 runners are selected by slot holders that forked out $600,000 to buy a spot in the race and the barrier draw is to be conducted tomorrow.
Star jockey Rachel King has told fans heading to Everest day for the first time next Saturday to brace themselves.
“It’s like nothing else,” King said. More than 40,000 racing fans are expected.
Two of Chris Waller’s threepronged attack on The Everest – Arcadia Queen and Yes Yes Yes – strode out strongly in individual track gallops at Randwick on Saturday.
The duo set off together but separated as they approached the back straight with Yes Yes Yes clocked running 1000m in 1.01.82, last 600m in 35.07 seconds.
“He moves across the ground effortlessly.
“Yes Yes Yes, we’ve got blinkers on him so I just wanted that he got into that parade ring and was relaxed with them (ear muffs) on. I had them on before in a trial at Canterbury and he sweated up quite bad but today he was perfect.”
Waller said he will decide in the next 48 hours what work he will ask of both horses before their $14 million assignment next Saturday.
“They didn’t break records but had a really nice workout to keep them sharp and get used to the atmosphere because it’s a big day Everest day.
“That Theatre of the Horse is full of atmosphere.
“If I think they’ll need a hard gallop they’ll go Tuesday, if I think they need a maintenance gallop it will be Wednesday.”
Racing NSW veterinarian Toby Koenig inspected Coolmore’s Northern Hemisphere raider Ten Sovereigns after a Canterbury gallop on Saturday morning and gave the horse the all clear to run in The Everest.
On Tuesday, Koenig will inspect the Newcastle-based In Her Time before checking the soundness of the Sydney-based runners on Wednesday.
Godolphin confirmed on Sunday that Trekking would be accepting his spot in the field. Jockey Josh Parr has been booked to take the ride.