That concludes our live coverage of The Everest barrier draw.
Tune in on Saturday for all the action on The Everest day at Royal Randwick.
The Everest 2020 barrier draw: Who starts where for world’s richest turf race
The Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend has retained favouritism for The Everest after the barrier draw at Sydney Tower, but it wasn't as kind to the well-fancied Libertini. FULL DRAW HERE
Classique Legend retained his $4.50 favouritism for Saturday’s $15 million The Everest at Royal Randwick after drawing barrier six as Nature Strip’s fortunes changed.
The enigmatic sprinter has gone down in both runs this preparation after once being rated a $3.50 chance for the big race. Nature Strip had genuine excuses after mucus was found in his lungs after his last-start fourth behind Libertini and Classique Legend.
He has since been treated successfully with antibiotics and firmed from $6 to $5 after getting barrier five at The Everest barrier draw at Sydney Tower on Tuesday night.
Bivouac was probably the biggest loser of the barrier draw after getting gate 10 for Godolphin and trainer James Cummings, who was desperate for a barrier closer to the rail.
LATEST EVEREST BETTING: TAB FIXED ODDS
“I’d love to get the gun run with Bivouac in the race and I think the barrier draw is critical as it is for all those horses who like to settle in those sorts of positions,” Cummings said before the draw.
Bivouac, who drifted from $13 to $15 after the draw, does have last year’s The Everest-winning jockey Glen Boss in the saddle and Cummings said there’s likely to be a few shocks in Saturday’s race.
His stable had two placegetters in the past two Everests and Trekking will be aiming to go one better this year after he got barrier four and races in Max Whitby’s slot.
“Something out of the blue has happened for us in the first few years,” Cummings said.
“We had the rank outsider two years ago in Osborne Bulls who jumped out of the ground to run third after having finished outside the placing in the Rupert Clarke.
“Last year, the three-year-old (Yes Yes Yes) was a surprise and Trekking was a rank outsider who got up for third so I’d say to expect the unexpected.”
Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys said the race would be just as big this year despite COVID regulations preventing a full house and he wasn’t bothered that the event lacked an international runner.
“We’ve got the 12 best sprinters in the world and it rates as the best sprint race in the world each year,” V’landys said.
The Racing NSW boss couldn’t help but have a crack at Victoria when asked where the barrier draw could be next year after previously having it on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.
“Maybe we’ll have to do it on the smelly Yarra next year,” he said.
Gytrash, who defeated Nature Strip in the Concorde Stakes first-up, will get a lovely run, stalking a hot speed from barrier seven which left his trainer Gordon Richards a happy man.
“I can handle that,” Richards said. “Jason (Collett) will be able to pick what he wants to do from there. He’s been pretty happy with him for a couple of weeks now.”
Libertini, who raced her way into The Everest by winning the Premiere Stakes a fortnight ago, got the widest barrier in the 12-horse field and she drifted from $6 to $7.
After the draw, one TAB punter had $7700 each-way at $11 on Behemoth, who will jump from barrier two. The David Jolly-trained gelding has won all three starts this campaign, including two Group 1 s in Melbourne.
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Best mates laughing all the way to The Everest
Updates
THE BETTING
UPDATED MARKET
1. Nature Strip $6
2. Trekking $17
3. Classique Legend $4.50 fav
4. Santa Ana Lane $26
5. Behemoth $11
6. Bivouac $15
7. Gytrash $5
8. Eduardo $21
9. Dollar For Dollar $51
10. Tofane $21
11. Libertini $7
12. Haut Brion Her $21
The big winners from the draw were Classique Legend, Nature Strip and Gytrash, while Libertini will need plenty of luck from the widest gate.
Classique Legend remains favourite with TAB at $4.50 after the barrier draw, but the firmer was Nature Strip after he drew gate 5. Libertini was the big loser from the draw, drifting from $6-$7 after coming up with gate 12.
1. Nature Strip 5
2. Trekking 4
3. Classique Legend 6
4. Santa Ana Lane 8
5. Behemoth 2
6. Bivouac 10
7. Gytrash 7
8. Eduardo 9
9. Dollar For Dollar 1
10. Tofane 11
11. Libertini 12
12. Haut Brion Her 3
THE BARRIERS
1. Nature Strip 5
2. Trekking 4
3. Classique Legend 6
4. Santa Ana Lane 8
5. Behemoth 2
6. Bivouac 10
7. Gytrash 7
8. Eduardo 9
9. Dollar For Dollar 1
10. Tofane 11
11. Libertini 12
12. Haut Brion Her 3
Libertini – barrier 12
Classique Legend – barrier 6
Trekking – barrier 4
Nature Strip – barrier 5