July Cup winner Mill Stream in The Everest hunt as King Charles III visit to Royal Randwick shortens

With the very real possibility King Charles and Queen Camilla could be in Sydney for The Everest meeting provides extra incentive for English connections of Mill Stream to consider making the trip.

Mill Stream after winning the July Cup.

With speculation increasing that King Charles III could be trackside on Everest Day, Australian Turf Club officials are intensifying efforts to lure international competition to Sydney for the spring carnival, including July Cup winner Mill Stream.

Expatriate trainer Jane Chapple-Hyam prepares the talented Mill Stream which won the prestigious Group 1 July Cup at famous Newmarket racecourse on Sunday.

ATC’s Head of Racing and Wagering, Nevesh Ramdhani, has contacted Chapple-Hyam to gauge the level of interest in setting Mill Stream for the $20 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 19.

Chapple-Hyam, the daughter of former Federal Liberal Party leader Andrew Peacock and Susan Renouf, has been training at Newmarket since 2001 and is acutely aware of the very difficult challenge confronting English sprinters to travel down under then compete with Australia’s fastest horses.

* ‘Extremely hopeful’: King Charles set for The Everest Day appearance

Pure speed 🚀

Mill Stream wins the Group 1 @MyPensionExpert July Cup for @JaneChappleHyam and @WilliamBuickX 🏆 @NewmarketRacepic.twitter.com/RFZT9RcBC4

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 13, 2024

But with the very real possibility King Charles and Queen Camilla could be in Sydney for The Everest meeting which also includes the Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) provides extra incentive for English connections of Mill Stream to consider making the trip.

Mill Stream has shown this northern hemisphere summer he is one of the best sprinters in Europe by following his close third to Swingalong in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot by beating that horse in the July Cup.

TAB Fixed Odds spokesman Tim Ryan has inserted Mill Stream at $26 in latest betting for The Everest behind I Wish I Win at $4.50.

Mill Stream (right) wins the July Cup.

Ramdhani said Mill Stream is not the only horse ATC is interested in luring to Sydney for the spring carnival.

“I have reached out to Jane Chapple-Hyam to learn more about their plans for Mill Stream,’’ Ramdhani said.

“But I have already received approaches from a number of trainers and Europe and Japan about the logistics of bringing horses to Sydney for the spring. We have distributed our racing program to those overseas trainers.’’

* Racing NSW announce $5m race named in honour of King Charles III

Ramdhani revealed plans to travel to England, Ireland, France and Japan in the next few weeks where he intends to speak personally to trainers and owners interested in potentially bringing horses to Sydney for the spring carnival for races like The Everest and $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 2.

The added international interest in the Sydney spring carnival comes as a statement from Buckingham Palace on Sunday confirmed King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit Australia and Samoa in October.

The King’s Australian visit would include engagements in Canberra and Sydney although the exact itinerary has not been revealed.

But the King will be in Sydney before making the trip to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads Of Government meeting between October 21-25 which leaves the door open for him to attend The Everest meeting on October 19.

Racing NSW has already officially invited His Majesty to present the trophy for the King Charles III Stakes on Everest Day.

Originally published as July Cup winner Mill Stream in The Everest hunt as King Charles III visit to Royal Randwick shortens