All eyes will be on Royal Randwick on October 14 for the seventh staging of The Everest, Sydney’s version of the Melbourne Cup.
The world’s richest grass race has a whopping $20 million in prize money, and while it’s not a Group 1 sprint, an enthusiastic crowd of 45,000 is tipped to line the track this weekend.
Peter Moody’s Group 1 winning gelding I Wish I Win, and Joseph Pride’s Stradbroke Handicap winner Think About It, loom as two competitors who look tough to beat.
Here’s Daily Mail Australia’s runner-by-runner guide to The Everest 2023.
1. I wish I won
Odds: $5.50 win, $1.22 place
Jockey: Luke Nolen
Trainer: Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman
All eyes will be on Royal Randwick on October 14 for the seventh staging of The Everest, Sydney’s version of the Melbourne Cup (pictured, pre-race favorite Think About It)
More than 45,000 spectators will descend on Randwick this weekend, with The Everest at 4:15pm AEST
Excellent sprinter in ominous form, with smart trainers in Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman. Haven’t raced since September so will be fresh. Also the highest rated horse in the field.
2. Private investigator
Odds: $6 win, $2.25 place
Jockey: Nash Rawiller
Coach: Joe Pride
Famous for his tenacity and looked slick in a recent Group 2 victory at the same venue over 1100 metres. Also has Nash Rawiller in the saddle, but has a difficult barrier, in gate nine.
3. Think about it
Odds: $4.50 win, $1.90 place
Jockey: Sam Clipperton
Coach: Joe Pride
Rising sprinter who can be anything. The only drama is the jockey, Sydney, Sam Clipperton, who may succumb to pre-race favoritism. Also previously gained over 1200 meters at Randwick.
4. Mazu
Odds: Win $61, place $12
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Trainer: Peter and Paul Snowden
Apart from coincidence, the best days are behind him. A wide barrier is also not ideal.
Racegoers will descend on Sydney’s east this weekend, with The Everest popular with all ages (pictured, a patron of the 2022 race)
Happy spectators at Royal Randwick (photo, a couple after the last race on the card)
5. Viaduct
Odds: $10 win, $3.50 place
Jockey: Josh Parr
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Quality jockey on board in Josh Parr will look to set the pace early as race leader. Just greetings from Randwick.
6. Buenos Noches
Odds: Win $12 place, $3.80
Jockey: Dylan Gibbons (student)
Coach: Matt Smith
He showed his preference for this track with an overwhelming first victory over the same distance of 1200 meters, two runs back. Every way bet is suggested.
7. Hawaii Five Oh
Odds: Win $13, place $3.80
Jockey: James McDonald
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Coming from a leading top stable from Waterhouse-Bott, and with champion jockey James McDonald in the saddle, definitely worth a look. The quality of the field may work against him.
8. Alcohol-free
Odds: Win $41, place $9
Jockey: Craig Williams
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Also from the Waterhouse-Bott camp, and an experienced jockey in Craig Williams, who won this race last year on Giga Kick. Was rated as one of the world’s best sprinter-milers after winning four Group 1 races in England.
Giga Kick, ridden by veteran jockey Craig Williams, was a surprise winner of the 2022 Everest
In the long term, The Everest also plans to break crowd records at Randwick with a Kentucky Derby-style plan (pictured, spectators at last year’s Everest)
9. In secret
Odds: Win $12 place, $3.50
Jockey: Zac Purton
Coach: James Cummings
Excellent sprint mare with the Godolphin paint, under the guidance of their arms trainer James Cummings. Also on board is Zac Purton, the Hong Kong-based Australian who is one of the best jockeys in the world.
10. Espiona
Odds: Win $15, place $4.20
Jockey: Hugh Bowman
Coach: Chris Waller
Prepared by master trainer Chris Waller and equipped with a beautiful inner barrier. Hugh Bowman in the saddle is another bonus, but Epsiona has largely failed in recent years.
11. Shinzo
Odds: Win $15, place $4.40
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Coach: Chris Waller
Won the Golden Slipper last fall to show his class. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy has won three of six Everests on Redzel (2017/2018) and Classique Legend (2020). A good internal gate doesn’t hurt either.
12. Cylinder
Odds: Win $8.50, place $2.80
Jockey: Zac Lloyd (apprentice)
Coach: James Cummings
Ran third in the Golden Rose and pulled off a handy barrier. Up-and-coming jockey Zac Lloyd is getting plenty of plaudits, but this is a different test. Needs to be in the mix when it matters.
Hawaii Five Oh will be the choice of many punters at Royal Randwick this weekend
Advertising guru John Singleton has declared that he will shout at the public bar as his nag Hawaii Five Oh salutes the winning post
Meanwhile, Bet Right CEO Anthony Waller believes Matthew Smith-trained Buenos Noches is the value runner on the Everest pitch.
“It looks ready for the race after a maiden win in August, followed by a quick third place in Group 2 The Shorts, where it was narrowly beaten by fellow Everest contenders Private Eye and Overpass,” he said.
‘A win would mean a fairytale result, not only for Warwick Farm-trained Smith, but also for apprentice rider Dylan Gibbons. Young Gibbons got his first taste of Group 1 success earlier this year by winning the Sydney Cup and victory on Everest would cap off a remarkable year.”
Waller also predicted that I Wish I Win and the fast finish Think about It are both primed for a big race, with another big hope for rising three-year-old colt Cilinder.
As Waller noted, three-year-olds have a good record on Everest, having won the past two races.
Cilinder’s run-up form suggests he will be right in contention, and trainer James Cummings will be desperate to add The Everest to his training CV.
The John Singleton/Gerry Harvey owned Hawaii Five Oh can’t be left out – with ‘Singo’ declaring he’ll shout at the public bar if his nag salutes the winning post.
If the $12 odds win, Singleton will have to cough up $300,000 for thirsty gamblers.
Selections for the correct bet value:
Buenos Noches (12:00)
Cylinder (8.50)
Hawaii Five Oh (12:00)
