Biggest game changer in years

THE Everest has become the biggest game-changer in Australian sport since World Series Cricket more than 40 years ago.

Bruce McAvaney, the legendary and respected sports broadcaster, has described The Everest as the most exciting innovation in horse racing for decades.

McAvaney said The Everest was revolutionising racing just like Kerry Packer did when he changed cricket forever with the creation of World Series Cricket.

“The Everest has changed the Australian sporting landscape like nothing I’ve seen before,’’ McAvaney said.

“The race is having as big an impact as World Series Cricket did all those years ago.’’

McAvaney anchored Channel 7’s coverage of The Everest meeting at Randwick on Saturday where Redzel won the world’s richest turf race for a second successive year before 40,568 race fans.

He said the race had captured the imagination of racing and sports enthusiasts.

“This race is remarkable, it is unique, it is different, it is exciting – there is nothing like it,’’ McAvaney said. “What The Everest has done for racing in two years is incredible.’’

McAvaney said there was room on the nation’s turf calendar for The Everest.

“There were 15 Group 1 winners competing at Randwick and there were 15 Group 1 winners competing at Caulfield,’’ he said.

Despite the bad weather and very heavy Randwick track conditions, betting turnover is again expected to smash records with early estimates showing wagering was up 9 per cent on last year’s meeting.

Former Racing NSW chairman and Arrowfield Stud supremo John Messara said The Everest had established itself as one of the nation’s premier races and reinvigorated the Sydney spring carnival.

“NSW racing is back in the game in a very big way now,’’ Messara said. “This time of year we used to think only about the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups but I don’t think I’ve bothered to read an article about them the last few weeks.

“We are only going to get our minds to those things after The Everest. That is the priority of The Everest now in the (racing) landscape.’’

Redzel’s trainer Peter Snowden said The Everest meeting was a “fantastic day, one to savour.’’

BRUCE ALMIGHTY THE EVEREST HAS CHANGED THE AUSTRALIAN SPORTING LANDSCAPE LIKE NOTHING I’VE SEEN BEFORE BRUCE MCAVANEY