Redzel and Shoals favourites but $13m race is wide open

THE wait is finally over and it will all come down to less than 70 frenetic seconds at Royal Randwick today.

At 4.15pm today, the gates will spring open for the $13 million TAB Everest.

Before an expected crowd of more than 40,000 at Royal Randwick, The Everest’s field of 12 outstanding sprinters will compete in the world’s richest turf race.

This race is so even, finding the favourite is proving as challenging as backing the winner, with The Everest betting market changing constantly.

Defending champ Redzel was the $6.50 favourite for most of the day yesterday but by late afternoon he eased out to $7 and was joined by Shoals at the top of Everest betting.

Vega Magic has shared race favouritism for the last two weeks but uncertainty about his ability to cope with a heavy track has resulted in the gelding drifting to $8.50.

The same applies to Trapeze Artist and Santa Ana Lane. They started the week sharing favouritism but are now out to $9, joining Irish raider US Navy Flag.

The big drifter is In Her Time who has eased to $15. The brilliant Newcastle mare has been challenging for Everest favouritism since her mighty first-up in the Premiere Stakes when she ran the closest of thirds to Santa Ana Lane and Shoals until she eased dramatically in betting yesterday.

But the topsy-turvy Everest betting market is another indication of how competitive this race is with the rank outsiders being Le Romain, Graff and Osborne Bulls at $18.