The Everest: The Race documentary reveals the names behind the world’s richest race

A new documentary on the world’s richest horse race on turf, The Everest, has attracted some of the biggest names in racing. These are the people who make it the ultimate event.

A new behind the scenes documentary on the world’s richest horse race on turf, The Everest, has attracted some of the biggest names in racing to take part.

The Daily Telegraph’s six part documentary The Race is a candid look inside the world of thoroughbred racing and the deals that go into making The Everest a world class event.

In it an emotional Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys reveals how the race has gone from a completely new idea seven years ago to revolutionising and revitalising Australian racing.

“I‘ve never seen anything at any sporting event anywhere in my life than what I saw at the Everest last year when 43,000 people sang Sweet Caroline,” he said.

Peter V'landys pictured at North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club for the barrier draw of the 2021 Everest horse race. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It wasn‘t just the massive crowd at the front of the grandstand, it was everywhere. And when you looked at the vision, it sent tingles up my spine that we could be doing that.”

The Race documentary has extraordinary access to all levels of racing including star jockeys Tommy Berry and James McDonald and the superstar athletes themselves – the fastest horses on the planet including I Wish I Win and Think About It.

It all starts with the 12 slot holders who have each paid $700,000 for the right to choose which horse they want to run.

Tommy Berry, seen riding Ellsberg, gives insight to the magnitude of The Everest. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

James Mcdonald tells of the hype The Everest creates. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Slot holders including bloodstock agent James Harron and owner and breeder Max Whitby talk about what it has been like to be a part of The Everest roller coaster from the beginning.

Others, including legendary ad man and breeder, John Singleton, lament their early scepticism about the concept which led to them knocking back the original chance to buy a slot in the race.

In Singleton’s case that turned into him trying to buy all 12. Unsuccessfully.

Those who have them are holding on tightly. Newgate Farm Stud founder Henry Field has finally got one – taking over Greg and Barb Ingham’s slot with the poultry producers retaining a small share.

John Singleton was initially sceptical of the race. He is pictured at his recently sold home on the Strawberry Hill Stud at Mount White. Picture: Troy Snook

“We actually were offered one of the first lots in the initial race five or six years ago and elected not to take it,” Mr Field said. “So as I‘ve seen the prize money keep increasing and increasing and increasing, I’ve regretted it more and more every year.”

Once he had the slot Mr Field targeted the horse. “When the slot came to fruition, realistically there were two horses that were a cut above everything: else. The Great Giga Kick, last year‘s winner, and I Wish I Win, the top New Zealand bred sprinter.”

James Harron had moved early to secure Giga Kick for a second year so Mr Field approached the owners of “the horse that was the obvious target” – I Wish I Win.

Henry Field regretted not taking on an offer for a spot at first The Everest, something he has now rectified. Picture: Luke Marsden.

“I actually put a deal to them. That was a deal that I thought made a lot of sense, but they went a different way,” he said.

I Wish I Win went into a slot leased by New Zealand’s Trackside Media for what insiders say is “a very favourable deal” in terms of how the prize money is divided up.

The slot was leased from bloodstock auctioneer Inglis, whose boss Mark Webster explains the background to the deal.’

Bloodstock agent James Harron, with Lot 52, a brown colt, for which he paid $900000 from Arrowfield stud, He moved quickly to secure Giga Kick. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/The Australian

I Wish I Win’s trainer Peter Moody and jockey Luke Nolen are also candid about their preparation and chances.

Giga Kick’s trainer Clayton Douglas talks about the emotion of winning last year and how that led to a second term in James Harron’s slot. But that was before an unexpected twist took the favourite out of the race.

Jockey Craig Williams had looked certain to repeat his ride until an ill timed run at Moonee Valley pushed the four-year-old gelding too hard. Rod Douglas, racing manager to billionaire owner Jonathan Munz, was furious.

Craig Williams riding Giga Kick during track gallops at Moonee Valley Racecourse on September 5, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. Picture: Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images

Trainer Clayton Douglas after Giga Kick wins the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, ridden by Craig Williams. Picture: Grant Peters/ Trackside Photography.

“I‘d have strangled him with my bare hands, I’d have strangled him in the mounting yard. There’s no excuse for what he did,” he fumed. “It wasn’t all about winning that race, he knows where we’re at with the horse. He knows he’s three weeks until the Premiere (Stakes) and five weeks to The Everest.”

Douglas was fined $1500 for the comments and Williams was unceremoniously dumped from riding the favourite in the world’s richest race on turf. The drama continued with The World’s Best Jockey, James McDonald, coming back from a month’s lay-off with a foot injury to go straight into the big race on Giga Kick.

And then, with just three weeks to go, Giga Kick was pulled from the race with a gluteal muscle strain possibly caused by that now infamous ride. “I have arguably the best horse in the country, who was set to have a great spring running in races carrying $30m in prizemoney, but unfortunately he is going to the paddock. That‘s racing,” Douglas said afterwards.

Everest winning Jockey Craig Williams at Sandown Racecourse Picture: David Geraghty

Meanwhile other trainers and jockeys were also vying for a slot. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott explain what it means to them while Annabel Neasham’s dreams appeared to came true with her first berth in The Everest with Sunshine In Paris signed into the Aquis Farm slot.

Heartbreakingly the mare suffered a minor leg injury which ruled her out of the big race with less than three weeks to go.

Gai Waterhouse explains in the documentary what The Everest means to her. Picture: Ross Holburt/Getty Images

Coolmore principal Tom Magnier has had a slot at the race since it began. Picture: Toby Zerna

Other trainers including Joe Pride, Bjorn Baker and Winx trainer Chris Waller, who also has a slot in the race, reveal how they prepare horses to peak at exactly the right moment to snare a slot and the dream of the $7 million prize money for crossing the line first.

The big studs also have slots and a huge interest in The Everest with James Cummings from Godolphin having two hot contenders with In Secret and Cylinder. John Messara from Arrowfield signed up Mazu early while Tom Magnier from Coolmore kept his powder dry.

“We have a slot in the Everest,” Mr Magnier said. “It‘s something that we’re delighted to have been in since its induction.”

Coolmore is a worldwide breeding operation and has received positive global feedback on the success of The Tab Everest. “For a race that‘s so young, it has ears pricked around the world,” he said. “Many people are talking about it and many people are saying, why can’t we make this work in our jurisdiction?”