Australia’s leading integrated resort company, The Star EntertainmentGroup is one of The Everest’s twelve slot holders. The ASX 100 listed company has selected Queen Arcadia as their runner for 2019. Interestingly, Queen Arcadiaseems to be after wonder-mare Winx’s crown in the grand scheme of things. So The Star seems to be on the winning track this year.

Everest Diaries speaks to Nicholas Santucci, the Manager of Business Development at the Star Entertainment Group about how thy selected Queen Arcadia and what are their plans for the 2019 Everest race day.

ED: In a rapidly approaching post-Winx world, racing will need another new headline hero and that hero or rather heroine is supposed to be Arcadia Queen. She has even achieved more than Winx had at the same age. How did you settle on such a superstar? What was the process?

NS: She is being labelled the heir apparent to Winx and while she has run on the board at present, longevity will provide the ultimate answer. On the big stage in Sydney, Arcadia Queen will face a true test in the Spring against the top horses in the country. The Everest is a fast race, with a track that runs the other way for her, the Royal Randwick bend is tough on some of the fast sprinters that are not used to it. When we had Redkirk Warrior this was a factor. Redkirk went on to beat Redzel down in Melbourne after the Everest.

The Process was quite informal. We had heard Bob Peters was keen to get her into the race as he was making the trip to Sydney this year. I first thought our chances were not good too but after a couple of conversations, both Bob and The Star were excited to partner for the Everest this year, I think it’s going to be a winning formula.

ED: Will you be able to share who were your other choices alongside Arcadia Queen?

NS: I can’t really say as most of the options on the table were confidential. However, we were very lucky to have a mix of non-solicited offers from owners and stables that we were pursuing. All our options were high-quality Group winners. Eventually, we felt our best option for this year’s race was to do the deal with Bob Peters for Arcadia Queen.

ED: What would you say about her 3 P’s (physical, performance and pedigree) which would make her ‘The Everest winning 'Star'?

NS: Arcadia Queen has the 3Ps covered, making her a great horse to watch. Physically she is a big strong filly, 16.2 hands.

Her performance and previous results speak for themselves. She has had 6 starts for 5 wins including 1 x Group 3, 1 x Group 2 and 1 x Group 1. Her Group 1 win was against older horses at Weight For Age, a feat that is not often achieved by a 3-year-old Filly. The Group 1 win was so emphatic that a panel of international handicappers placed her in the World’s Top 150 Racehorses.

And in terms of Pedigree she comes has a strong line. She is by Pierro, a Golden Slipper winner and champion 2-year-old from a Redoute’s Choice mare, Arcadia. She is a full sister to stakes winner Arcadia Prince and a sister in blood to Stakes winners Regal Power and Action. She is also a half-sister to stakes winners Arcadia Rose and Arcadia Dream.

ED: In the greater scheme of things what are your plans for The Everest race and how is The Star getting involved, apart from being a slot holder?

NS: The Star Sydney is proud to promote and support the cultural and sporting events that really matter to this city and, in the case of The Everest, that resonate around the country and across the world. The Everest helps embed Sydney as a major events capital and drives additional tourism which is key for us. Star Sydney is a world-class tourism and entertainment destination and welcomes around 14 million people a year. We have also been a long-time supporter of racing in the country and have a great partnership with the Australian Turf Club.

We kick-off our Spring racing promotions here on property at The Star in October and will be extending promotions to encompass the Golden Eagle at Rosehill. Throughout this period, we will be a thrilling guest across the property with a variety of events. These are likely to include banquets, dinner, and giveaways for our patrons.

ED: What is The Star showcasing this year to the passionate racegoers coming for this grand spectacle?

NS: In addition to on-property activations throughout the carnival, The Star will invite guests along for the ride and provide an ‘on course’ experience on the race day. We will thrill guests with a unique, and world-class experience that will allow them to feel as much part of the race as owners and give them a glimpse into the world of racing.

ED: And finally, could you tell us a bit about yourself, how you got involved in the industry, how did you come to Sydney and join The Star and finally how involved are you with horse racing?

NS: I was originally a corporate lawyer. After leaving private practice I ended up work in politics for the New South Wales Minister for Gaming and Racing. During that period, I worked on several industry-related projects including a tax relief product for the Racing Industry here in NSW. Over that period, I came to know the industry both at a commercial level and through the eyes of the wide range of industry participants The Star has long been a big supporter of racing here in NSW and after joining the business The Star decided to become one of the inaugural slot holders. Since then I have been working on specific projects including dealing with horse selection for the race.