3 minute read

The inaugural Everest meeting and Randwick can be considered an overwhelming success with the day spearheaded by Redzel winning the $10million sprint.

Sydney’s extended spring carnival came to an end at Randwick last Saturday with a ten race program featuring the first running of The Everest (1200m).

The $10million sprint attracted a strong line up and it was Redzel who came away with the win for a large group of connections.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy settled Redzel outside of leader Houtzen.

The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained sprinter applied pressure to Houtzen up the rise who couldn’t handle it while Redzel powered away.

A three quarter length win ensued over a luckless Vega Magic with Brave Smash producing a career best in third.

Chautauqua was flying late in fourth while Tulip was making some late ground in fifth and should relish returning to her own age contesting the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

REDZEL wins the inaugural running of the $10 million TAB Everest! What a performance!!!#TheEverest pic.twitter.com/deZ3AsJ4rX

— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 14, 2017

Redzel’s historical victory returned a Timeform rating of 125, one pound clear of his prior best achieved when beating a number of the same rivals home contesting The Shorts.

The Everest boasted a top line field of sprinters, comparable to what the highest rated sprint races in Australia, the TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) would attract.

Star sprinters Black Caviar and Lankan Rupee are each responsible for pulling the Black Caviar Lightning and TJ Smith Stakes up to 129, and with this in mind, it was expected a Timeform rating of 125-127 would be needed to win The Everest.

Sure enough that has proven the case.

The first five across the line on Saturday will take beating whichever direction connections elect to head with them.

They will take what will become common spring paths for Australia’s best sprinters.

While Sydney sprints such as The Shorts and the Premiere Stakes will become stronger events as lead up races into the The Everest, The Everest itself will become a key form line for main chances in the Manikato Stakes, the Coolmore Stud Stakes and the Darley Classic.

It is only a matter of time until these Everest-Manikato, Everest-Coolmore Stud Stakes, Everest-Darley Classic doubles are all claimed.

Vega Magic, Brave Smash, Chautauqua and English will all head to the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 before likely contesting the Group 1 Darley Classic (1200m) down the Flemington straight six a fortnight later.

It is there they will clash again with Redzel who Team Snowden believe produces his best when kept fresh.

Tulip along with most three-year-olds who contest The Everest each year will head to the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day.

The Everest as a race itself was an impressive spectacle.

The program at the end of the Sydney Spring Carnival is also having a positive impact in a broader sense.

It is evident by looking at the calibre of runners winning throughout the rest of the Everest Day program who would otherwise be racing in Melbourne.

While not in The Everest, In Her Time has shown so far this campaign she would not have looked out of place in the event.

The mare defeated Everest runners English, Clearly Innocent, Chautauqua and Fell Swoop on resuming in a strong Premiere Stakes (1200m).

She was always going to take beating dropping back to a race of lesser quality, the Listed Sydney Stakes (1200m).

In Her Time enjoyed an ideal run in transit behind the pace and on straightening, coasted up towards the early lead pair of Jungle Edge and Ball Of Muscle.

While the Joe Pride-trained sprinter Ball Of Muscle provided some resistance, In Her Time drew clear of him late.

The run returned In Her Time a Timeform rating of 118, equal to the figure she produced first up in taking out the Premiere Stakes.

Next for In Her Time is the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on October 27 where she can pit herself against Everest runners and perhaps even show them up once more.

The runner up Impending was highly impressive, savaging the line late for what in the end was a short neck defeat.

Hugh Bowman settled the 2017 Stradbroke Handicap winner well back in the field and weaved through runners.

Another 50m and the son of Lonhro would have been in front however despite that, the performance possessed an abundance of merit and augers well for the remainder of his spring preparation.

Big Duke stayed in Sydney after running second to Foundry in The Metropolitan a fortnight earlier and the decision proved worthwhile.

Far better suited under Set Weights conditions and dropping in grade, Big Duke capitalised by taking out the St Leger Stakes (2600m).

The win looked inevitable as they turned for home with Big Duke still having plenty in reserve.

A three quarter length win ensued over Auvray who has been a model of consistency since being transferred to the Richard Freedman stable.

Big Duke’s run returned a Timeform rating of 113, well below his master figure achieved in The Metropolitan (2400m) however against lesser company, it was all that was necessary.

The Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is next for Big Duke, a race contested by former stablemate Prince Of Penzance before winning the 2015 Melbourne Cup.

The Craven Plate rounds out the main supporting events on Everest Day which was claimed by the Gary Moore-trained Classic Uniform.

A fortnight after leading throughout at a snail’s pace in the Hill Stakes, Classic Uniform again got away with murder, making all over 2000m.

Fresh off a popular Group 1 success in the Epsom Handicap (1600m), Happy Clapper could only manage second, running well below his best over what is looking an increasingly unsuitable distance for the Teofilo gelding.

Classic Uniform’s fighting success produced a Timeform rating of 115, a new master Timeform rating to reflect a performance which has trainer Gary Moore considering loftier goals for the son of Al Maher.

The Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot on December 9 or the Villiers Stakes over the Randwick Mile during the summer are potential options.