All eyes on The Everest
THE $13 million The Everest has been the most talked about horse race in Australia all year and it’s only going to heat up further in the next 100 days before it’s run for the second time at Randwick on October 13.
Half the field is already locked in for the 1200m event.
Aquis got the ball rolling in April when selecting TJ Smith Stakes winner Trapeze Artist to run in its slot.
Aquis chief executive Shane McGrath said the race wasn’t just a hot topic in Australia.
“The recognition that The Everest has got worldwide is a big factor in terms of our marketing of Aquis Farm,” McGrath said.
The TAB soon followed Aquis by picking In Her Time while last year’s winner Redzel was secured by Yulong.
Chris Waller Racing thought Brave Smash was worthy of another run in the race, The Star wanted Shoals and just last week Damion Flower picked up Doomben 10,000 winner English.
Other slot-holders Max Whitby, James Harron, the ATC, Inglis, GPI Racing and Coolmore have been biding their time, looking to see which sprinters return best from a winter break.
The horse that those six slot holders will have their eyes on this weekend, however, is Nature Strip, who contests the Listed Creswick (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.