2024 The Everest Day Turf Talk: ‘Crazy to Think he missed a slot’

Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances in all the big races on The Everest Day at Royal Randwick on Saturday, providing their analysis and best bets.

Racenet and The Daily Telegraph’s Mitch Cohen and Shayne O’Cass debate the chances for all the big races on 2024 The Everest Day at Royal Randwick.

Mitch Cohen and Shayne O'Cass.

Last year’s The Everest champ won’t defend his title but Mitch is confident he can earn a million-dollar-plus consolation prize by winning the Group 3 Sydney Stakes.

And Shayno’s best bet comes in the Big Dance Wild Card, in which he’s tipping a Group winner to salute.

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Shayno: We should have this one; the Richest Race On Turf (Talk) Mitchy. If I only tip one winner this weekend, this month, this spring – let it be in The Everest! It’s I Wish I Win for me, last year’s unlucky runner-up. I hated barrier 1 for him in 2023, loving 9 in 2024. You?

• Clinton Payne’s The Everest tips, runner-by-runner form assessment

Mitch: What a week, Shayno. He’s hard to knock, I Wish I Win, but I’m looking elsewhere for some more value. I’ve landed on Sunshine In Paris. She missed the chance to run in this race last year due to a minor setback but can make up for it on Saturday. That win in the Sheraco Stakes first up was brilliant.

Shayno: I can’t believe Think About It missed a slot this year. It is crazy. I hope for his connections that he wins the Sydney Stakes but I think his barrier might beat him and the Robert Sangster Stakes winner, Climbing Star.

Mitch: I all but declared Think About It on the airwaves during the week and I am sticking to my guns. Joe Pride has confirmed his intention to be positive from the draw and if he brings his A-game, last year’s The Everest champ will be too good.

• Ceolwulf can match ‘breathtaking’ Epsom win, Schofield says

Shayno: King Charles is probably spending today doing the form for his race. I am sure he’ll see that Celestial Legend has raced at the Randwick Mile twice, once was the Guineas win, the other was the Doncaster. Hoping those blinkers spark him back into the winner’s circle.

Mitch: I was bullish about Ceolwulf before the Epsom a few weeks ago and won’t be dropping off him now. Sure he’s got to go to the next level but he looks untapped and that should be no worries.

• ‘I’ll be cheering this horse for Chris’: Brother’s Kosciuszko wish

Shayno: The Kosciuszko is a cracker. From a purest point of view, how cool would it be for Front Page to do a Makybe Diva? Me? I just thought Tanglewood was good value at $23 and $5.

Mitch: The only thing that can beat Front Page is if the track becomes an absolute bog, otherwise it’s a winning hat-trick for the Southern Districts flyer.

Shayno: My Everest day best is Ducasse in the Big Dance Wild Card.

Mitch: Outside of Think About It, I am keen on Island Dec in the Reginald Allen Quality. She’s a filly going places.

Originally published as 2024 The Everest Day Turf Talk: ‘Crazy to Think he missed a slot’