Australia’s The Everest: Horse-By-Horse Preview Of World’s Richest Turf Race

The Everest: World's richest turf race (AU$15 million), inaugurated in 2017. Slot-holder format; field restricted to 12; six furlongs. Track “A,” Race 7 this Friday at 10.15 p.m. Pacific. 

The Setting: Randwick hosts a third straight Friday night of top-quality racing – the temporary rail was out 16 feet last week and moves into the “true” position (0') for The Everest. Rain is predicted across the week; race day could be windy, in which case it can be advantageous to be “covered up” in running. 

The Broadcast: Nick Hines will anchor TVG's coverage; Sky Racing's Jason Witham will be on-track at Randwick; yours truly will weigh in via Skype. First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT.

The Field: All runners carry 128 pounds, except the mare Libertini (124) and the 3-year-old Home Affairs (116). Post positions in parentheses.

#1 Nature Strip (10) 7-2. The world's highest ranked turf sprinter. 17 wins from 32 starts. Prodigiously gifted, Nature Strip was enigmatic earlier in his career. Under Chris Waller's patient tutelage, the horse is finally balancing his brilliance with tractability and professionalism. Has finished 4th and 7th in The Everest; this third time could deservedly be the charm.

#2 Classique Legend (5) 7-2. Went to Hong Kong (where his owner is based) after winning The Everest last year, but failed to acclimate. 83-year-old training legend Les Bridge got his “gray flash” home again in June, and is training him up to the race (used two prep races in 2020). Tries to emulate Redzel, who won the first two editions of this race; jockey Kerrin McEvoy is a common denominator, and shoots for a remarkable fourth win in five runnings of The Everest.  

#3 Eduardo (7) 5-1. The world's second-highest ranked turf sprinter; has twice out-gamed Nature Strip in photo finishes. He was a scintillating G1 winner in March when 2nd-up from a layoff, prompting a similarly timed attack on The Everest.

#4 Gytrash (1) 8-1. Pronounced GEE-trah. Finished 3rd in The Everest last year; desperately unlucky when 3rd last start behind Eduardo and Nature Strip. Career 25:10-6-7, with valid excuses for only two unplaced runs.

#5 Trekking (4) 30-1. Godolphin's aptly named representative is being given a third chance to reach the summit, after finishing 3rd and 4th the past two years. Veteran son of Street Cry needs the breaks, but is genuine and will be closing. 

#6 Masked Crusader (9) 8-1. Ran 2nd behind Nature Strip in an April G1 race; has produced exhilarating rushes from the rear to win two of three starts this campaign, in slightly easier company. 

#7 Wild Ruler (11) 50-1. Would have been an exotics chance on firm ground from a good gate, but has neither.

#8 The Inferno (12) 25-1. Star sprinter-miler in Singapore in 2019-20. Caught fire in Melbourne last month with a G2 win and close G1 2nd. Has never raced clockwise; hard task after being dealt the “visitor's draw.” 

#9 Embracer (3) 70-1. Late replacement for the slot-holder whose Rothfire was sidelined by injury. Outclassed and impossible to embrace.

#10 Lost And Running (2) 20-1. Was hot when running through the grades earlier this year; snapped up early by his slot-holder. Albeit with some excuses, has been more lost than running in both starts this campaign against top-level competition.   

#11 Libertini (8) 30-1. A dangerous weapon when fresh, this mare has deliberately been set for The Everest off a layoff. Has overcome a recent, minor setback. Knockout potential, but prefers firmer footing.

#12 Home Affairs (6) 10-1. Coolmore is replicating the formula that won them The Everest with Yes Yes Yes in 2019 – a (newly turned, on August 1st) 3-year-old colt trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Glen Boss. Home Affairs brilliantly won his seasonal debut, before holding his own in a workout versus Waller's Nature Strip. 

Selection: #4 Gytrash

Wagering Strategy: Gytrash win/place; 20c trifecta 2, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4 / 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10

The Final Word: Coolmore's Tom Magnier: “Full credit to Racing New South Wales. They planted the seed for The Everest and it grew into a tree from Day One.”

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:30pm ET / 6:30pm PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World Appskyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpiresXpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWagerHPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com. 

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Australia: The Everest Summit Is One Week Away

Everest Update: The Everest, the world's richest turf race, is just one week away. Last year's winner Classique Legend used a prep race prior to The Everest last year but is being trained up to the race in 2021. This Thursday afternoon, U.S. time, he has a crucial “barrier trial” (training race from the gate) with major Everest contender and last start winner, Eduardo so keep your eyes on Sky Racing World socials for a replay of the trial. Three Everest slots remain open, owned by Godolphin, Coolmore and James Kennedy. Godolphin's Paulele is entered in Friday night's 5th race and remains under consideration for The Everest. 

Friday Night's Feature Race: Race 8, the G1 $1,000,000 Spring Champion Stakes, for 3-year-olds at 1-1/4 miles. Wagering is headed by the exacta horses from the traditional prep race, the Gloaming Stakes, along with a filly who caused a massive Group One upset just last week. The trio can keep close tabs on each other, as they break from adjoining gates.

Hefty Price Tag: Profondo is Italian for “deep,” which describes the pockets belonging to the owner who paid $1.9 million for this colt. More likely, the name pays homage to his late sire, the Japanese racetrack-and-stud sensation Deep Impact (by Sunday Silence). Unraced as a 2-year-old, Profondo debuted with a seven-furlong maiden win on September 1st, before stepping up to nine furlongs in the G3 Gloaming Stakes. Sent off favorite, Profondo raced a bit keenly before hitting the front in the stretch, only to throw the race away by ducking in sharply. He lost narrowly to the more seasoned Head Of State (a son of American Pharoah), and the pair will be neighbors in the starting gate for Friday night's much-anticipated rematch. #1 Head Of State (gate 9) is 7-2, while #2 Profondo (gate 10) is 2-1 favorite.

Fillies Trending: While only three fillies have won the Spring Champion Stakes (first run in 1971), those wins have all come in the past five years (including 2020 winner, Montefilia, who won last week's G1 Metropolitan Handicap as a 4-year-old). #11 Never Been Kissed will attempt to replicate Montefilia's feat of last season, by winning the G1 Flight Stakes and the G1 Spring Champion Stakes “double.” Never Been Kissed was let go at 60-1 when winning the one-mile Flight versus her own sex. She is 4-1 third choice for Friday night's assignment against colts and is drawn directly inside Head Of State in gate 9.  

Selection: #2 Profondo

Supporting Stakes: Race 7, the Silver Eagle, is a $500,000 race for 4-year-olds and up at 6-1/2 furlongs. The program also features a pair of Group Two races and a pair of Group Threes. Friday night's 10-race card attracted a total of 140 entries (including Also Eligibles). First Post is 6.35pm Pacific.

Hot jockey(s): Reagan Bayliss was last Friday night's star, increasing his career Group One win total from three to five (Epsom Handicap and Flight Stakes). Hugh Bowman deserves an honorable mention for reaching a special milestone: by winning last week's other G1, the Metropolitan, Bowman became just the fourth Australian rider to register 100 Group One victories (exactly one quarter of Bowman's came aboard Winx).    

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:35pm ET / 6:35pm PT) alongside cards from Gold Coast, Eagle Farm and Goulburn. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World Appskyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpiresXpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWagerHPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com. 

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Australia: Randwick Is Base Camp For The Everest

Everest Carnival: With the Carnival now in full swing, Randwick will stage stakes races every Friday night in October. The Everest will be run on the 15th at six furlongs for $15 million. Nine of a maximum twelve contenders are confirmed for the world's richest turf race: last year's winner, Classique Legend, Nature Strip, Eduardo, Gytrash, Masked Crusader, Rothfire, Lost And Running, The Inferno and Libertini.

Friday Night's Historic Feature: Sydney's “Royal Randwick” hosts one of Australia's time-honored handicaps this Friday night, when the G1 Epsom is contested for the 156th time. The  $1.5 million Epsom is emblematic of the tremendous value that Australian racing provides – both as a wagering medium and a sporting spectacle. A field of 17 will commence its mile journey from the top of Randwick's back stretch, at 11.05pm. Pacific time.

The Favorite: #9 Riodini (4-1) finished 3rd in this race last year and is favorite on the strength of two recent narrow defeats at weight-for-age, both at the Randwick Mile. He almost stole the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at 40-1, only to be grabbed in the last stride by Think It Over, before a gallant 2nd to champion mare Verry Elleegant in the G1 George Main Stakes. Kindly treated under handicap conditions, Riodini will forge his own luck in or near the front, and make the higher weighted horses run him down. His trainer, Gai Waterhouse, is tied with her legendary father, T.J. Smith, for most Epsom wins (7).

The Highweight: In Australia, program numbers do not correspond to post positions. Instead, fields are listed from highest to lowest weighted horses. As a dual-Group One winner, #1 Mo'unga has earned his highweight but must concede 12 pounds to Riodini. (Both have drawn wide gates, but post positions are not significant with a three-furlong run to the first turn.) Mo'unga was the first G1 winner for England native Annabel Neasham, a rising star in Australia's training ranks.

Contention Runs Deep: The field includes the trifecta horses from the Epsom's “sister” race, the Doncaster Mile (part of “The Championships at Randwick” each April). #2 Cascadian (12-1) rises seven pounds from his victory over #7 Icebath (8-1) and #3 Dalasan (14-1). Icebath's prospects are enhanced by the forecast for rain leading up to race day. #6 Hungry Heart (7-1) could have Springsteen fans swooning, but last season's top 3-year-old filly has shown a preference for firm footing.    

Selection: #7 Icebath

Supporting Stakes: 3-year-old fillies will also utilize Randwick's one-mile starting point in the G1 Flight Stakes. The G1 Metropolitan Handicap at 1-1/2 miles and a pair of Group Two races add depth to a stellar 10-race card, which includes the first 2-year-old race of the new Australian season (sponsored by Keeneland).

Hot Jocks: Nash Rawiller was last week's hot jockey, on the back of four wins the previous Friday night. Nash again got the cash, riding a triple and sharing the honors with Tim Clark. (One of Clark's three winners was my 5-1 Pick of the Night on TVG, Vangelic.)  

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:50pm ET / 6:50pm PT) alongside cards from Doomben, Newcastle and Gold Coast. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the new Sky Racing World Appskyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpiresXpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWagerHPIbet, DRF Bets and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com. 

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Special Conditions Racing: The New Kid on The Block

In Global Views, Godolphin Flying Start trainees provide insight into practices experienced and observations taken on their worldwide travels. First-year trainee Angus Robertson looks at how Special Conditions Races are changing the Thoroughbred racing landscape for the better.

There are two certainties in horse racing. First–people don't do it for the money. Long hours, hard work and sometimes little reward if things go wrong (which they often can) are enough to put off anyone seeking pure financial gain. People in the Thoroughbred industry do it for a love of the horse, a burning desire to succeed and a determination to overcome the odds in the never-ending pursuit of excellence.

The second certainty? Nothing is free in this world.

Many have long said that British and Irish prizemoney systems require major restructuring to direct increased wagering revenue back into racing. However, as exemplified by the Irish EBF Ballyhane S., there is enormous potential for Special Conditions Races to initiate a transition towards more holistic and successful prizemoney systems, as well as improving overall racing quality and competitiveness.

The Ballyhane S., run for the first time in 2020, is based on a model of stallion median sales prices, where a horse's sire requires a sales median below €75,000. Race weights are then allocated on the same scale. Entries for this year number 369, all hoping for a shot at the total prizemoney of €200,000. Last year's entries set an Irish record–563, where runners competed for €320,000 across two divisions, making it Ireland's richest race for juveniles.

So why do special conditions strike such excellent balance and attract such popularity? The blunt reality of horse racing is not all stakeholders are in a position to spend six-figure sums on yearlings. Many up-and-coming trainers and owners work tirelessly to build client bases before they're able to compete at the top buying bench. This ballot affords huge opportunity to such players, where in other 2-year-old or group-level events they are simply crowded out by the top-level sales purchases.

Many may debate that these races reduce competition and quality, and whilst this specific format restricts horses by elite-tier sales stallions, here is an interesting statistic. The 2020 Irish Flat season yielded 11 individual Group 1 winners–seven were by sires with a career sales median (in GB + Ireland) within €75,000. The fact that over 60% of Irish Group 1 winners last year came from a similar category to the 369 entries for this year's Ballyhane S. is a testament to the fact that Special Conditions Racing doesn't diminish quality.

Looking further afield at Special Conditions Racing and how it has helped propel an industry, we can examine numerous initiatives within Australia. In 2015, the Australian Turf Club introduced the Country Championships–a series of Country heats worth $150,000 each, where horses aimed to qualify for the $500,000 Country Championships Final run at Royal Randwick during the Autumn Carnival.

Such was the success of the “Country Champs” that the ATC launched the TAB Highway Series–a standalone event (C1 or C2) at every Metropolitan Saturday meet designated solely for country-based trainers. Many were critical of this idea but six years later the Highway races regularly present the largest fields of each Sydney Saturday meet, with prizemoney recently increased to $100,000. Not only do these events offer country trainers an opportunity to saddle up a horse at elite race days, but also to compete in a level playing field for prizemoney that makes a significant impact to their stables. It also creates better wagering environments with large fields of unexposed horses.

Since 2015, further initiatives have been launched nationwide such as The Everest concept formulated around the offering of 12 'slots', where purchasers front A$600,000 (towards prizemoney) for a position in the race for three years. It's now the world's richest turf race worth A$15 million, and registers the highest betting hold behind the G1 Melbourne Cup, a true reflection of customer engagement. Furthermore, in 2020, one slot was purchased by micro-share syndicate MiRunners, offering 1,000 customers the ultimate ownership experience–a key example of how Special Conditions Racing can benefit all stakeholders.

The Kosciuszko, a A$1.3-million Country-only event on Everest day, determines its slot holders through a raffle, giving each $5 ticket holder the chance to have a horse in the race. In 2019, the A$5-million All-Star Mile was introduced in Victoria, where horses above a minimum rating are selected via public vote. Each voter goes into the running to become an owner-ambassador, with a chance to receive A$500,000 if their chosen horse wins. It's interesting to note that nine of the 15 starters this year were Group 1 winners, and the race recorded the highest Victorian turnover for 2021, a staggering A$17.88 million– another example of Special Conditions Racing generating immense popularity.

Another exciting development is the recent formulation of “Midway Races” which will operate similar to the A$100,000 TAB Highways, but be aimed at small and mid-sized stables in Provincial and Metropolitan regions. As stated by Racing NSW Chairman Russell Balding, they have been introduced with the aim of “building competitiveness and further developing field sizes and quality for metropolitan racing.” The system will operate on a points basis with the number and level of previous season winners determining trainer eligibility.

An argument against Special Conditions Races is the fact they lack the prestige and history associated with traditional pattern events. And this is right–just because a race offers substantial prizemoney does not make it superior to Group 1 events with centuries of history and consistently strong ratings. However, how did these races reach such status? The fact is many trace back hundreds of years to the earliest race days, where owners would gather and compete with each other for substantial personal wagers. The lure of an exciting new concept was what led to increased competition and a foundation for the pattern we see today. Special Conditions Racing aims to replicate just that–using exciting new concepts that allow all stakeholders to compete. And in using race models that put prizemoney back into a wider spread of stakeholders, it generates a positive cyclical effect throughout the whole industry.

It seems only a matter of time before Special Conditions Races start to gain momentum in Europe, and it would not be surprising to see other industry organisations follow the likes of Ballyhane in the endorsement of such events. Be it other stud farms, sales companies or bloodstock agencies, many of these major players can mutually benefit from the endorsement of Special Conditions Racing. In the current climate of COVID-19, it's more important than ever to put forward initiatives that capture wider audiences, be it on-course or on-air, all whilst rewarding the stakeholders who help our industry prosper.

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