Record a real shot as Everest looms
RANDWICK’S 1200m track record could be broken for the second time this spring when 12 of the nation’s best sprinters race for $10 million in The Everest on Saturday.
Deploy set a new Randwick 1200m standard when he ran 1 minute 08.06 seconds to win the Show County Quality two starts back but that record will be challenged by The Everest field, which includes flying Gold Coast filly Houtzen.
The sheer quality of the field and the massive prizemoney ensures this race will be run at a frenetic tempo.
There are seven individual Group 1 winners in the race, Chautauqua, She Will Reign, Redzel, Clearly Innocent, English, Vega Magic and Redkirk Warrior, plus a Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner in Houtzen, the brilliant Deploy, Golden Slipper minor placegetter Tulip, multiple Group 1 placegetter Fell Swoop and former Japanese sprinter Brave Smash.
The Everest barrier draw tomorrow is crucial but it is likely Deploy will lead.
Houtzen and Redzel are likely to race on the speed ensuring there won’t be any cheap sectionals and giving the backmarkers their opportunity to swoop late.
Houtzen returned to her normal leading role last start when she won the Group 3 Scarborough Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on September 29.
Meanwhile, jockey Corey Brown has taken every opportunity to get to know She Will Reign, the horse he will partner in The Everest.
She Will Reign’s Golden Slipper-winning jockey Ben Melham gave up the battle to get to 51kg to ride the filly in the race.
Brown has been a regular aboard the Gary Portellitrained filly in trackwork over the past week.
He will ride her in more serious work at Warwick Farm tomorrow after riding her in a three-quarter pace hit-out at the Sydney track on Saturday morning.
“I’ll tell you where you know she’s a good horse, I thought I was doing threequarter (pace) and I went a little bit quick up the straight,” Brown said.
“Not overly too quick, but she was running good time and feeling like she was doing three-quarter (pace).”
Kerrin McEvoy rode She Will Reign when she resumed with a stunning win in the Moir Stakes (1100m) on September 29 but was committed to Redzel, paving the way for Brown’s call-up.
“Obviously it will come down to barrier draws and luck in running but she’s definitely pulled up well from the run (in the Moir) and I’m just glad I’ve gotten to know her before race day,” Brown said. “I’m stoked to be riding her.”
She Will Reign is the $4.20 favourite for The Everest with UBET, while Houtzen is a $23 chance.