Preview & Trifecta: The Everest Cup 2017 - Sprint To The Finish
The brainchild of Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys, The Everest has quickly established itself as one of highlights of the 2017 Spring Racing Carnival. Twelve of the best sprinters in the world, will compete for a A$10 million prize purse. If the Melbourne Cup stops the nation, then The Everest is expected to stop heartbeats. The Everest boasts seven individual Gr.1 winners in the race - Chautauqua, She Will Reign, English, Redkirk Warrior, Vega Magic, Redzel and Clearly Innocent. And there are two Sydney track record-holders in the field — Redzel (Randwick, 1100m) and Deploy (Rosehill, 1300m & Randwick 1200m).
The first name on everyone’s lips is While Chautauqua placed 6th in the Premier Stakes recently, Avdulla will need to push him for a lift. He has every chance of being first past the finishing post, if his tempo is fast and he can sustain his early speed until the end. Vega Magic is unbeaten since his transfer to the Hayes against quality opposition, but this bunch of top sprinters may be seriously test his metal. Redzel looks tough and he is likely to be the one to beat. Comes into the race off the back of four straight and has every chance of winning this dash. This last minute entry, is the first Newmarket winner (March 2017) in 100-years to achieve the feat first up from a spell. He is coming in fresh so he is expected to do well, but he is yet to place in two starts in Sydney, both at group one level albeit over longer distances.
Clearly innocent, was a few legs behind English in the Premier Stakes. He has gone from strength to strength since being taken over by Kris Lees at the beginning of 2017 but this length may be too short for him. A fantastic galloper, he has already broken records at Randwick and must be considered for the top spot. Fell Swoop, a $45,000 purchase by a very happy and enthusiastic syndicate, has come a long way. He finished third behind Chautauqua and English in the TJ Smith at the same stage, track and distance in the autumn. Although may be slightly out classed here. Brave Smash should bring the Japanese contingent out in full force but he is highly unlikely to contest at the finish. John Kelly’s English, arguably produced the best run in the Premiere Stakes last start when overcoming plenty of traffic to finish second to In Her Time over 1200m at Randwick. She is in superb form and likely to feature in the top three.
A favourite with all the bookies for this race, She Will Reign, may well extend her impressive record to eight wins from nine starts. This should be a bit of challenge but this Golden Slipper should easily be able to rise to it. This Brisbane filly has vast amounts of potential but maybe outclassed by this calibre of competitors. And finally Tulip, who is considered to be incredibly lucky for making it into The Everest field. Unlikely to appear in even the top five.
Gate |
Horse Name |
Age |
Origin |
Sex |
Pedigree |
Trainer |
Owner |
Jockey |
Race Form |
1 |
Houtzen |
3 |
AUS |
F |
I Am Invincible - Set To Unleash (Reset) |
A J Edmonds |
Aquis Farm & Raffles Thoroughbred Racing and others |
J. Lloyd |
7 Starts, 5 Wins |
2 |
She Will Reign |
3 |
AUS |
F |
Manhattan Rain - Courgette ( Charge Forward) |
Gary Portelli |
"Mr MD Holland, Mrs KA Allison, Mr G Bachell and others" |
C. Brown |
6 Starts, 5 Wins |
3 |
Redkirk Warrior |
6 |
GB |
M |
Notnowcato - Flag (Selkirk) |
David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig |
"Mr MB Lee, Miss YCJ Tam" |
R. Bayliss |
13 Starts, 6 Wins |
4 |
Redzel |
5 |
AUS |
M |
Snitzel - Millrich (Rubiton) |
Peter and Paul Snowden |
Triple Crown Syndicate and others |
K. McEvoy |
19 Starts, 9 Wins |
5 |
Chautauqua |
7 |
AUS |
M |
Encosta De Lago - Lovely Jubly (Lion Hunter) |
"Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes" |
"R and C Legh Racing, GPI Racing, Gurners Bloodstock Co and others" |
B. Avdulla |
29 Starts, 13 Wins |
6 |
Clearly Innocent |
6 |
AUS |
M |
Not A Single Doubt — No Penalty (Zabeel) |
Kris Lees |
Cressfield |
H. Bowman |
17 Starts, 9 Wins |
7 |
Deploy |
5 |
AUS |
M |
Fastnet Rock-Crimson Reign (Red Ransom) |
Gerald Ryan |
"Torryburn Stud, Segenhoe, Stallion Racing" |
J. Parr |
16 Starts, 8 Wins |
8 |
Fell Swoop |
6 |
AUS |
M |
Not A Single Doubt — Touched In Flight (Fasiyev) |
Matthew Dale |
"Mrs AE Dale, Ms ME Porter, Mr MW Curtis and others" |
T. Angland |
24 Starts, 9 Wins |
9 |
Brave Smash |
4 |
JPN |
M |
Tosen Phantom-Tosen Smash (Tokai Teio) |
Darren Weir |
"Australian Bloodstock, Mt Hallowell Stud, Power Thoroughbreds and others" |
J. Spencer |
16 Starts, 3 Wins |
10 |
Vega Magic |
5 |
AUS |
M |
Lope De Vega — Admirable (Magic Albert) |
David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig |
"Mr WH Daly, Mr GE Daly" |
C. Williams |
17 Starts, 12 Wins |
11 |
Tulip |
3 |
AUS |
F |
Pierro - Musidora (Rock of Gibraltor) |
David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig |
"Coolmore, Cobra, Mr MJ Kirwan, Mr JW Hillier, Mr GP Heffernan" |
T. Clark |
8 Starts, 2 Wins |
12 |
English |
5 |
AUS |
M |
Encosta De Lago — Court |
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott |
Newhaven Park |
B. Shinn |
19 Starts, 5 Wins |
Trifecta
1) Deploy
2) Chautauqua
3) English