Royal Randwick to host $10m Everest sprint at Spring Carnival — making it the richest race on turf

RACING NSW has announced a $10 million rival to the Melbourne Cup which will be the most valuable run on turf.

RAY THOMAS

less than 2 min read

February 1, 2017 - 12:55PM

Extreme Choice will be among the contenders for the enormous prize purse on offer in Sydney in October.

SYDNEY will host the world’s richest thoroughbred race on turf with the introduction of the $10 million The Everest to be run at Royal Randwick during October.

The Everest is set to attract the best racehorses from around the world for the 1200m sprint.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys confirmed the $10 million race will be run on October 14 during Sydney’s spring carnival.

The Everest’s $10 million stakes money replaces the $6.2 million Melbourne Cup as the nation’s richest race.

The only races with more prizemoney are the $US12 million Pegasus World Cup run in Florida and the $US10 million Dubai World Cup. Both of those northern hemisphere races are run on dirt tracks.

Flying Artie leads the list of likely runners for the new big money race.

The Everest will be run over 1200m at famous Royal Randwick under weight-for-age conditions.

Australian sprinters are generally regarded as among the best in the world but have needed to travel overseas to race at England’s Royal Ascot or Hong Kong’s Sha Tin to prove themselves.

Over the last decade or so Australian champions like Black Caviar, Takeover Target, Miss Andretti and Chautauqua have travelled to the northern hemisphere and beaten the best in the world.

But The Everest now provides an opportunity for Aussie sprinters to race in their own backyard and take on the best overseas sprinters.

Punters will flock to a race richer even than the Melbourne Cup.

The massive prizemoney for The Everest will be predominantly funded by a huge entry fee of around $600,000.

The field will have a maximum of 12 runners and those buying an entry secure a start in the race. This entry can be leased or on-sold to others wanting to race for The Everest’s huge prizemoney and prestige.

WORLD’S RICHEST HORSE RACES

$US12 million — Pegasus World Cup — Gulfstream Park, Florida.

$US10 million — Dubai World Cup, Dubai, UAE

$10 million — The Everest — Royal Randiwck, Sydney

$6.2 million — Melbourne Cup — Flemington, Melbourne

LIKELY CONTENDERS FOR THE EVEREST

Chautauqua

Astern

Flying Artie

Speith

Extreme Choice

Star Turn