Jockey Tommy Berry confident Sunshine In Paris is ‘spot on’ for The Everest

Sunshine In Paris hasn’t raced since the Sheraco Stakes and jockey Tommy Berry reckons she might be flying under the radar for The Everest.

Sunshine In Paris lines up in next Saturday’s The Everest. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

It’s been a case of out of sight, out of mind for The Everest contender Sunshine In Paris but star jockey Tommy Berry says he wouldn’t trade her for anything in Saturday’s $20 million sprint at Royal Randwick.

Sunshine In Paris has prepared for her date with the richest race on turf away from the limelight since her explosive first up victory in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) a month ago.

Berry has been an eager observer since then as several rivals of the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained mare put the finishing touches on their own preparations for The Everest.

*Switzerland makes timely run for Everest slot

Sunshine In Paris firms up in TAB Everest betting following her sensational first-up win in the Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes 🔥🔥🔥@ANeashamRacing@TommyBerry21

The mare is $15-$8 with @tabcomau to win the Everest on October 19 pic.twitter.com/k0FzDJNJ1G

— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) September 14, 2024

His confidence in Sunshine In Paris has grown as a result.

“As the weeks have gone on, I’ve been pretty pleased with what I’ve seen because there hasn’t been a standout,” Berry said.

“Others will probably say I am wrong, but she is probably the last horse going into The Everest that when she won, everyone was talking about her.

“Everyone was like ‘Wow, she is going to be hard to beat in The Everest’.

“That’s what seems to happen if they don’t run for a few weeks, they drift in the market.”

Despite not racing, Sunshine In Paris has drifted in betting and is now on the fourth line of betting as an equal $11 chance for The Everest.

The talented daughter of Invader has trialled strongly since her last run, hitting the line with plenty in hand in a star-studded heat over 1000m at Randwick last week.

*Bias aside, world-class Melbourne jockeys shine brightest at Caulfield

1⃣ Lady Of Camelot
2⃣ Lady Laguna
3⃣ Private Eye

The Golden Slipper winner prevails in a star studded trial at Randwick containing four #TABEverest runners. Behind the placings were Sunshine In Paris, Celestial Legend, Amelia's Jewel, Zougotcha, Joliestar & Fangirl. @tabcomaupic.twitter.com/n2dmAU1NUh

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 7, 2024

Her date with The Everest is a day that’s been 12 months in the making after a setback cost her the chance to line up last year.

Neasham and Archibald have stuck to their plan to get Sunshine In Paris to the race second up with the knowledge owner John Camilleri has his own Fairway Thoroughbreds slot.

So far it’s gone perfectly according to plan.

“I think that’s worrying sometimes, everything has gone so smooth and something could go wrong,” Berry said.

“They had to win their way in last year but this year she’s had the luxury of having that slot.

“I think Bella Nipotina is the one to beat, she was very good last week when she was unlucky again but my mare trialled well last Tuesday and you see she is coming along very quickly in her coat now so she should be spot on.”

The final field and barrier draw for The Everest will be revealed on Tuesday.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

RAG QUEEN (race 4)

David Payne has been looking forward to getting this filly up over a trip and you can see why after her fast finishing fourth in the Gloaming Stakes. Could she be a sneaky VRC Oaks chance?

El Castello strings together three wins in a row and wins the G3 TAB Gloaming Stakes for Josh Parr and @ACummingsracing!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/yj5en5VxT3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

MORE TERRITORIES (race 6)

She struggled to get clear running in the Tapp-Craig but was doing her best work late to just miss the placings. Keen to see her up over a mile at her next start.

TERRITORY EXPRESS (race 8)

What a ripping return from the Provincial-Midway Championships winner. He was dragged back from the outside draw before weaving through the pack and rocketing home. Look for him in races like The Five Diamonds or The Gong.

OLENTIA (race 9)

The Zoustar mare made it seven wins from 15 starts with a slashing first up win in The Nivison. She looks to have come back in tip top order and a date with The Invitation is likely on the cards.

Olentia wins the G3 Nivison first up and that's three @cwallerracing winners at Rosehill today!@aus_turf_club | @TommyBerry21pic.twitter.com/4n9DiNNr4A

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

COCO JAMBOO (race 9)

She raced without a lot of room early in the straight but finished off nicely first up from a break, just missing the placings. Happy to be with her second up.

STEWARDS SAY

Monte Kate (race 1): Was found to be coughing and making a respiratory noise post-race. She will undergo an endoscopic examination before racing again.

Shaiyhar (race 3): Was found to have a laceration to the near fore medial cannon post-race. Jockey Regan Bayliss believes it would was a contributor behind his underwhelming finishing effort.

Mare Of Mt Buller (race 4): Blood present in one nostril after the mare finishing less than a length off the winner in third. Trainer Chris Waller was advised of the provisions of AR79(8).

Spirit Of Wealth (race 5): Lost its off-fore plate approaching the 600m. Did not stretch out under pressure and shortened stride noticeably late.

Mayne (race 6): The colt was revealed to be 1/5 lame in the near foreleg and will now be spelled.

CRUNCH TIME

Switzerland (race 5): Thrust himself into The Everest calculations when clocking 32.93 seconds for his final 600m when winning. It was the third fastest of the Roman Consul but his 11.06 final furlong was the best of the race.

Does this change the Everest picture?

Switzerland is way too good for them in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes! 🇨🇭😮@cwallerracing | @nashhot | @CoolmoreAus@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/6D208oJvk1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

Territory Express (race 8): The only horse to run sub 33 seconds for the last 600m in the Alan Brown. He was last early but rattled home through traffic in 32.92 seconds.

Olentia (race 9): Only had two runners behind her in the run before surging home with a bit in hand. She finished off her last 600m in a tidy 33.15 seconds with a slick 10.70 split between the 400m and 200m.

Pharari (race 10): She was buried midfield on the fence but rocketed home with an explosive turn of speed to win, finishing her last 600m in an elite 32.58 seconds. It includes splits of 10.66 and 10.85 over the last two furlongs.

The fav Pharari wins the last at Rosehill! 🏎️@cmaherracing | @ZacLloydx | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/RJqIsZFEen

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 12, 2024

TRACK TALK

“We had Yes Yes Yes in it and he won it (The Everest, 2019) and this horse, Switzerland, is every bit as good as Yes Yes Yes.” Trainer Chris Waller.

“With The Everest being a Group 1 now, I can’t use the excuse anymore to wait for the Coolmore Stud Stakes.” Waller again.

“I said to the guys before the race, he reminds me of my old Cepheus, who died a few weeks ago.” Nash Rawiller on Here To Shock.

Chris (Waller) probably wins enough races, so let the little guy win one!“ Mitchell Freedman after Attrition’s Hill Stakes win.

“He’s been unbelievable for my career, this horse. I’ve stuck by him where he’s put in a few bad ones but I’ve always had faith that he could come back.” Beau Mertens on Attrition.

“It’s pretty huge for my career.” Jack Pilkington after his first city winner.

YOU CAN BET ON IT 

Hill Stakes

Attrition was almost friendless in the TAB betting, opening at $26 and staying there to salute with only a smidgen of the hold.

Alan Brown Stakes

Here To Shock did just that to win at $10.50 on the tote ahead of favourite Gringotts ($3.50). One TAB punter had $4000 each-way at $11/$3.50 on the gelding and another wagered $3000 each-way at the same odds.

The Nivison

Olentia had been strongly backed, with one TAB punter placing $9600 at $2.60 on the star mare. Another placed $3000 at $2.80.

THE SCHEDULE

Monday: Tamworth

Tuesday: Bathurst, Murwillumbah

Wednesday: Warwick Farm

Thursday: Hawkesbury

Friday: Taree, Canberra

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Wagga, Narromine, Deniliquin, Wauchope, Inverell

Sunday: Lismore Nowra

RON DUFFICY’S ROSEHILL GARDENS SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

I didn’t see it coming but Switzerland returned to form with a bang running solid time winning the Roman Consul.

The stable’s confidence in this horse could finally be justified.

FORGET THEY RAN 

She might have been the longest priced runner in the race but Danny’s St Darci had nowhere to move down the straight appearing to have plenty to offer.

It’s hard to say what she would have done with clear running but she certainly surged past the line when clear behind Olentia.

THE BLACK BOOK 

Waterford looked big and strong resuming in the Alan Brown Stakes and was fantastic again fresh savaging the line.

The upcoming Little Dance appears a beautiful race for him next time to put another win on the board.

RIDE OF THE DAY 

Can’t split Nash Rawiller on Here To Shock and Josh Parr on El Castello.

They were two perfectly executed rides reading the pace well.

Originally published as Jockey Tommy Berry confident Sunshine In Paris is ‘spot on’ for The Everest