2024 The Everest barrier draw: Trainer James Cummings delighted with gate for Traffic Warden

Trainer James Cummings had his wishes granted at last night’s The Everest barrier draw with a perfect gate for star colt Traffic Warden, who’ll lead a three-year-old assault on Saturday’s $20 million sprint.

Traffic Warden’s trainer James Cummings was delighted with his colt’s draw for the 2024 The Everest. Picture: Richard Dobson

Trainer James Cummings had his wishes granted at last night’s The Everest barrier draw with a perfect gate for star colt Traffic Warden, who’ll lead a three-year-old assault on Saturday’s $20 million sprint.

Attendees were kept guessing last night at Royal Randwick while The Everest barriers were revealed following a series of death defying acts performed by the Weber Bros Circus under the Big Top.

Four three-year-olds will contest this year’s race with Godolphin’s Traffic Warden set to get every chance from barrier two with Victorian-based jockey Jamie Kah aboard.

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“It’s a perfect draw, we were hoping to draw inside four and just hoping that we can capitalise on it now,” Cummings said.

Traffic Warden is on the fourth line of betting at $8 behind Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman’s Victorian-based weapon I Wish I Win ($5), the Chris Waller-trained Joliestar ($6) and Ciaron Maher’s gun colt Growing Empire ($7).

I Wish I Win, who drew barrier nine, was a narrow runner-up in last year’s The Everest and was the second horse picked up for his second attempt at the race.

A circus performer soars above the crowd on a motorbike at last night’s The Everest barrier draw at Royal Randwick. Picture: Richard Dobson

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Waller, already a two-time The Everest winner with Yes Yes Yes (2019) and Nature Strip (2021), saw his chances of claiming a third win enhanced with Joliestar drawing ideally in barrier four.

Bella Nipotina is an $8 hope despite drawing the outside in barrier 12 while I Am Me ($17), victorious in both the Concorde Stakes and The Shorts in the lead up, was one of the big winners after drawing barrier one.

Giga Kick, an $11 chance, won The Everest two years ago as a three-year-old but missed last year’s main event after suffering an injury in the lead up.

Martin Espana performs at last night’s The Everest barrier draw. Picture: Richard Dobson

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The Clayton Douglas-trained gelding didn’t race in the autumn but Australian Turf Club (ATC), in partnership with Giga Kick’s owner Jonathan Munz, saw enough in two spring runs to lock him in for The Everest.

His chances were enhanced with a perfect draw in barrier three.

“We are on the comeback trial and have been really happy with how he is going,” Douglas said.

“I am really happy with the barrier draw, it gives us options.”

Stefi Magnetica’s trainer Bjorn Baker and wife Andrea attend last night’s The Everest barrier draw. Picture: Richard Dobson

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Two-time placegetter Private Eye ($26) will jump from barrier 10, Sunshine in Paris ($11) jumps from eight while the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica ($15) is in six.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will start two three-year-olds in the race with Storm Boy ($15) and Lady Of Camelot ($51), who drew barriers five and 11 respectively.

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2024 THE EVEREST FIELD
No. – Horse – Trainer – Jockey – Barrier – Weight
1 – I WISH I WIN – Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman – Luke Nolen – 9 – 58.5kg
2 – GIGA KICK – Clayton Douglas – Mark Zahra – 3 – 58.5kg
3 – PRIVATE EYE – Joseph Pride – Jay Ford – 10 – 58.5kg
4 – BELLA NIPOTINA – Ciaron Maher – Craig Williams – 12 – 56.5kg
5 – I AM ME – Ciaron Maher – Nash Rawiller – 1 – 56.5kg
6 – STEFI MAGNETICA – Bjorn Baker – Zac Lloyd (a) – 6 – 56.5kg
7 – SUNSHINE IN PARIS – Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald – Tommy Berry – 8 – 56.5kg
8 – JOLIESTAR – Chris Waller – James McDonald – 4 – 56.5kg
9 – GROWING EMPIRE – Ciaron Maher – Kerrin McEvoy – 7 – 53kg
10 – TRAFFIC WARDEN – James Cummings – Jamie Kah – 2 – 53kg
11 – STORM BOY – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Brenton Avdulla – 5 – 53kg
12 – LADY OF CAMELOT – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Rachel King – 11 – 51kg
Emergencies
13 emg – OVERPASS – Bjorn Baker – 58.5kg
14 emg – THINK ABOUT IT – Joseph Pride – 58.5kg
15 emg – SOUTHPORT TYCOON – Ciaron Maher – 58.5kg
16 emg – MAZU – Joseph Pride – 58.5kg

Originally published as 2024 The Everest barrier draw: Trainer James Cummings delighted with gate for Traffic Warden