The national racing newsroom reveal their early selections for The Everest, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup

The ‘Big 4’ is upon us with the Caulfield Cup and The Everest to be run on Saturday with the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup looming large on the horizon.

No surprises this bloke is the most highly favourite runner of the spring ‘Big 4’ by the News Corp racing team. Picture: Vince Caligiuri–Getty Images

After the lead-ups have been run, there’s now only a few more sleeps until The TAB Everest and Caulfield Cup while the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup are just over the horizon.

The team from News Corp Australia’s national racing and sports wagering team have had the heat put on them to come up with their selections for not only Saturday’s big races but also their early thoughts on who might deliver on Cox Plate and also Melbourne Cup day.

MATT WILLIAMS (Editorial Director — NCA Racing and Sports Wagering Hub)
The Everest: Gytrash
Caulfield Cup: Nonconformist
Cox Plate: Probabeel
Melbourne Cup: The Chosen One

STEPHEN BRASSEL (National Racing Editor)
The Everest: Masked Crusader
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: Explosive Jack

RAY THOMAS (Racing Editor - Telegraph)
The Everest: Masked Crusader
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: The Chosen One

TONY THOMAS (Telegraph)

The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Young Werther
Cox Plate: Verry Elleegant
Melbourne Cup: Grand Promenade

BEN DORRIES (National)
The Everest: Masked Crusader
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: Incentivise

Classique Legend gets the nod by a good few in the team for The Everest. Picture: Mark Evans – Getty Images

CLINTON PAYNE (Racenet)
The Everest: Classique Legend
Caulfield Cup: Duais
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: She’s Ideel

BRAD WATERS (Herald Sun)
The Everest: Eduardo
Caulfield Cup: Nonconformist
Cox Plate: State Of Rest
Melbourne Cup: Explosive Jack

GILBERT GARDINER (Herald Sun)
The Everest: Masked Crusader
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Sir Dragonet
Melbourne Cup: Spanish Mission

DAVE HOCKING (Punters)
The Everest: Eduardo
Caulfield Cup: Delphi
Cox Plate: Anamoe
Melbourne Cup: Delphi

Is it Nature Strip’s turn to finally climb The Everest? Some of our team believe it is. Picture: Mark Evans – Getty Images

MITCH COHEN (Racenet)
The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Verry Elleegant
Melbourne Cup: Spanish Mission

TRENTON AKERS (Courier Mail)
The Everest: The Inferno
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Probabeel
Melbourne Cup: Pondus

CHRIS VERNUCCIO (Racing News Editor)
The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Anamoe
Melbourne Cup: Tralee Rose

ADAM DOBBIN (Editor, Racenet)

The Everest: Classique Legend
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: Young Werther

Beaten but certainly not bowed. Zaaki is still favoured to win the Cox Plate. Picture: Vince Caligiuri – Getty Images

MATT JONES (Telegraph)
The Everest: Masked Crusader
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Anamoe
Melbourne Cup: Montefilia

JAMES LAMB (Punters)

The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: Verry Elleegant

NICK HLUCHANIUK (Punters)

The Everest: Classique Legend
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Verry Elleegant
Melbourne Cup: Spanish Mission

LUKE SHEEHAN (Punters)

The Everest: Classique Legend
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Keiai Nautique
Melbourne Cup: Carif

Could Spanish Mission be the one to lower the colours of Incentivise in the Melbourne Cup? Picture: Reg Ryan – Racing Photos via Getty Images

SHAYNE O’CASS (Sportsman)
The Everest: Classique Legend
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Dalasan
Melbourne Cup: Montefilia

ADAM SHERRY (Sportsman)
The Everest: Eduardo
Caulfield Cup: Young Werther
Cox Plate: Zaaki
Melbourne Cup: Realm Of Flowers

JACK FITZPATRICK (Punters)
The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Incentivise
Cox Plate: Verry Elleegant
Melbourne Cup: Spanish Mission

JETT HATTON (Racenet)
The Everest: Nature Strip
Caulfield Cup: Young Werther
Cox Plate: Anamoe
Melbourne Cup: Explosive Jack

THE CONSENSUS

THE EVEREST: Nature Strip (5), Classique Legend (5).

CAULFIELD CUP: Incentivise (13).

COX PLATE: Zaaki (6).

MELBOURNE CUP: Spanish Mission (4).

TAB PRICES
(Tipped horses only)

THE TAB EVEREST

$4.20 Classique Legend
$4.20 Nature Strip
$6 Eduardo
$7.50 Gytrash
$9 Masked Crusader
$23 The Inferno

CAULFIELD CUP

$2.40 Incentivise
$7 Delphi
$11 Young Werther
$12 Nonconformist
$16 Duais

COX PLATE

$3 Zaaki
$4 Anamoe
$8 Verry Elleegant
$13 Probabeel
$34 Dalasan
$101 Keiai Nautique

MELBOURNE CUP

$5 Incentivise
$5 Spanish Mission
$11 Delphi
$13 Realm Of Flowers
$15 Explosive Jack
$15 Young Werther
$21 The Chosen One
$21 Tralee Rose
$26 Montefilia
$34 Pondus
$51 She’s Ideel
$101 Carif

Originally published as The national racing newsroom reveal their early selections for The Everest, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup