The Everest 2021 Wonder Race finishing order: Black Caviar wins, Vain second, Manikato third
Mighty mare Black Caviar reigned supreme against a field of sprinting champions in The Wonder Everest.
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Mighty mare Black Caviar reigned supreme against a field of sprinting champions in The Wonder Everest.
Just as she did in her 25-start unbeaten race career, Black Caviar was too good in a virtual race against some of the greatest sprinters of all-time.
Black Caviar got the better of Vain, Manikato and Todman as the “Fab Four” put a margin on their chasing rivals.
“Using Timeform ratings as the predictor of the outcome for this classic field, unbeaten mare Black Caviar comes out a clear winner – no photo finish here,’’ Crispe said.
“In fact, the top four across the line, Black Caviar, Vain, Manikato and Todman, have a clear margin over fifth placegetter, Placid Ark.’’
The Peter Moody-trained Black Caviar was invincible on the racetrack and her 25 wins including 15 at Group 1 level featuring two TJ Smith Stakes, three Lightning Stakes, two William Reid Stakes, Newmarket Handicap and Diamond Jubilee Stakes.
Black Caviar was assessed with a peak Timeform rating of 136 – the equal top-rated illy or mare in the history of Timeform that dates back to 1948.
“During her string of breath-taking victories, Black Caviar either led or raced just off the speed, and defeated some of the best sprinters in the world at the time,’’ Crispe said.
“In The Wonder Everest, Black Caviar would have tracked Vain and Manikato before dashing past them at the 200m to win comfortably by more than a length.’’
Vain won 12 of his 14 starts during his short but spectacular sprint career including the Golden Slipper and Caulfield Guineas. His famous sprint treble during Cup Week in 1969 comprising the Craven A Stakes, Linlithgow Stakes and George Adams Handicap may never be repeated.
Manikato, the second horse after Kingston Town to earn $1 million prizemoney, won 29 of his 47 starts including the 1978 Golden Slipper-Blue Diamond double. He also won five consecutive William Reid Stakes and four Futurity Stakes during his memorable race career.
Todman won 10 of his 12 starts including the 1957 Golden Slipper by a record eight lengths. He also thrashed the legendary Tulloch by 10 lengths in the Champagne Stakes. He broke down as a spring three-year-old but returned in the autumn of his five-year-old season and reeled off three brilliant wins including the Lightning Stakes and Futurity Stakes before being retired to stud.
Placid Ark came in next followed by Classique Legend, Schillaci, Luskin Star, Takeover Target, Chautauqua, Redzel and Yes Yes Yes.
The Wonder Everest was a virtual race designed to finally settle debate about the greatest sprinter of all time. Or did it?
*Gamble responsibility. www.gambleaware.nsw.gov.au. 1800 858 858.
Todman, Schillaci and Yes Yes Yes can Wonder
Todman was so good he could be beat champions by 10 lengths, Schillaci was only a three-year-old when he beat older rivals in three successive Group 1 races and Yes Yes Yes has run the Randwick 1200m faster than any horse in history.
The trio are the latest inclusions in The Wonder Everest field, a virtual race between 12 of the best sprinters of all time, brought to you by TAB.
The freakish Todman only had 12 starts, winning 10 as injury beset his career. But when he was sound and fit, he was one of the most brilliant racehorses to ever grace the Australian turf.
Todman won the 1957 Golden Slipper by a record eight lengths and then he thrashed the legendary Tullich by 10 lengths in the Champagne Stakes. He broke down as a spring three-year-old but returned in the autumn of his five-year-old season and reeled off three brilliant wins including the Lightning Stakes and Futurity Stakes before being retired to stud.
Schillaci was an extremely talented sprinter and burst onto the scene as an autumn three-year-old in 1993, winning the Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap treble, becoming a triple Group 1 winner after just six starts. He also ran an Australian 1000m record of 55s flat winning the Rubiton Stakes.
Although Schillaci had injury problems as an older horse, he did win 16 wins from 36 attempts and when at his peak, trainer Lee Freedman said of the grey champ: “This horse is another Manikato.’’
Yes Yes Yes is the only three-year-old to win The Everest. The Chris Waller-trained colt came from back in the field with a stunning burst of acceleration to storm past a crack group of sprinters and win 2019 The Everest in 1m 7.32s – the fastest time ever run over the Randwick 1200m. Yes Yes Yes then suffered a career-ending injury and was retired to stud.
Legendary racing media personalities Ken Callander and John Tapp joined me to analyse the chances of Todman, Schillaci and Yes Yes Yes in The Wonder Everest.
The latest The Wonder Everest preview can be seen on www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport. Tapp will do an online call of The Wonder Everest, brought to you by TAB, at 12.30pm this Wednesday.
Legend favourite to climb The Everest again
Classique Legend has not raced for 10 months but that hasn’t stopped punters backing the grey sprinter into favouritism to go back-to-back in the $15 million The TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Les Bridge believes he has Classique Legend close to his best for the world’s richest turf race – and that’s good enough for punters who have backed the grey into $4 favourite ahead of Nature Strip at $5.
Bridge rates Classique Legend the best horse he has trained but just how good is the brilliant five-year-old? How would he measure up against the champion sprinters of yesteryear?
In the second preview instalment of The TAB Wonder Everest, a virtual race between 12 of the best sprinters of all time, Classique Legend is featured alongside greats Luskin Star and Manikato.
Luskin Star won 13 of his 17 starts, including the 1977 juvenile triple crown which featured his seven lengths romp in the Golden Slipper. He trained on to win the Caulfield Guineas and The Galaxy as a three-year-old.
Manikato was the second horse after Kingston Town to earn $1 million prizemoney during an outstanding race career that spanned five seasons, included 47 starts for 29 wins. He won the 1978 Golden Slipper-Blue Diamond double, then next season also claimed the Caulfield Guineas. The great sprinter won five consecutive William Reid Stakes and four Futurity Stakes during his memorable race career.
Legendary racing media personalities Ken Callander and John Tapp saw Luskin Star and Manikato in their pomp and they joined me to discuss the relative merits of these two super sprinters, Classique Legend and the other nine contenders for The TAB Wonder Everest.
The latest The Wonder Everest preview can be seen on www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport. Tapp will do an online call of The Wonder Everest, brought to you by TAB, at 12.30pm this Wednesday.
What, where, when: Is Black Caviar the GOAT?
Is Black Caviar the greatest sprinter of them all?
Could she compete with the freakish speed of champions Vain or Todman?
Into the mix comes the mighty Manikato and the phenomenal Luskin Star – how would they rate with these sprinting legends?
But wait, there’s more. There’s the champs of more recent times like Placid Ark and Schillaci, the global star Takeover Target and “Grey Flash” Chautauqua, plus The Everest winners, Redzel, Yes Yes Yes and Classique Legend.
Imagine having these 12 super sprinters in a Randwick 1200m race, on a good 4 with the rail in the true position….try picking the winner!!!
This is the field for The Wonder Everest, a virtual race sponsored by TAB, which is designed to settle the debate once and for all who is the best sprinter of all-time.
WHEN IS IT? 12.30PM ON WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 13
So, given the monumental task of selecting the winner of The Wonder Everest, I enlisted the help of two legends of the turf – media personalities Ken Callander and John Tapp.
Both men have an encyclopaedic knowledge of the sport and watched live nearly every sprinter in The Wonder Everest field. Their opinions proved invaluable with this concept.
Callander and Tapp kindly agreed to come into The Daily Telegraph offices last week where we analysed each of the 12 sprinters in The Wonder Everest field.
Even working out a likely leader was difficult. Would Vain, Redzel, Manikato, Placid Ark or Takeover Target lead early?
Where would Black Caviar settle? How far from the leaders would Luskin Star, Classique Legend and Yes Yes Yes be in the run. How much start would Chautauqua be giving away before he unleashed his famous finishing burst?
Starting today, Callander, Tapp and myself introduce three of The Wonder Everest runners, studying their records, famous wins and racing patterns. There will be similar daily previews across the next four days.
The first preview introducing Vain, Takeover Target and Redzel can be found online at www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport from Sunday morning.
Then on Monday, we discuss Manikato, Luskin Star and Classique Legend, Tuesday’s preview will focus on Todman, Schillaci and Yes Yes Yes, and on Wednesday morning we introduce Placid Ark, Chautauqua and Black Caviar.
Finally, John Tapp will deliver his phantom race call of The Wonder Everest that will appear online at www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport at 12.30pm on Wednesday October 13 and determine the best sprinter of all-time.
Actually, I’m not sure if this will settle the debate. I’d say the result of The Wonder Everest might ignite and divide opinion.
But that is what makes thoroughbred racing so compelling. Everyone has got an opinion.
Originally published as The Everest 2021 Wonder Race finishing order: Black Caviar wins, Vain second, Manikato third
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