This year's Concorde Stakes consists of just six horses. But they are currently the top sprinters in Australia. 

While three are already selected as Everest runners, three hope to show their mettle to get a slot. All six are winning chances, all but two have won at Group 1 level and all are resuming. What a contest this is going to be.

Redzel is just days away from his season return in the race that has been the launching pad for his past two wins in the rich race.

Trainer Peter Snowden is optimistic about his charge winning this one from the get-go.

"He's moving fantastic,

"He's got a glint in his eye when you walk out to him at four o'clock in the morning that suggests he's like a dog waiting for you to throw him the ball," Snowden said.

The Concorde Stakes will also give Kerrin McEvoy a chance to sound out Redzel's credentials for a third Everest tilt.

Sunlight capped her last spring prep with a dominant win in the Coolmore Stud Stakesprev and returned in autumn in even better form; adding the Newmarket and the William Reid to her mantle most notably. 

Group One winning Nature Strip is considered as a pure speedster. But since joining Chris Waller from the Darren Weir stable, Nature Strip has undergone re-education to try to extend his repertoire.

That was demonstrated in his most recent barrier trial when James McDonald tucked Nature Strip in behind Redzel and followed him to the line for second.

If Nature Strip fails to pick up an Everest slot even after the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes and Gr.2 Premiere Stakes, he is programmed to run in the A$500,000 Gr.3 Sydney Stakes on the Everest card. 

He will then head to Melbourne where his target race will be the A$1 million Gr.1 VRC Sprint Classic. 

Gr.1 All Aged Stakes winner Pierata having his first attempt at the 1000 metres, along with Graff and Queenslander Zoustyle, both relatively untapped talents out to showcase their claims to an Everest slot.

 

 

Distance: 1,000 metres,Surface: Turf,Track: Right-handed,Qualification: Horses three years old and older,Weight: Set weights with penalties,Purse: A$160,000 (2018)