The Everest 2019: Runner-by-runner guide

With six wins from seven starts this mare could spring a surprise at The Everest, according to the expert tips in our runner-by-runner guide.

Arcadia Queen ‘could be a freak’. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Now in its third year, The Everest is the highlight of the Sydney spring carnival, bringing together the best sprinters to compete for $14 million in prizemoney.

Here is everything you need to know including a verdict on who has the best chance from the experts at punters.com.au.

WHEN IS THE EVEREST?

The Everest will be held on Saturday, October 19 at the Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, with races beginning at 12.30pm. The feature race begins at 4.15pm.

You can watch the race on Sky Racing (Channel 518 on Foxtel) or Channel 7.

RUNNER-BY-RUNNER GUIDE

1. Santa Ana Lane (AUS) (2) Jockey: Mark Zahra Trainer: Anthony Freedman Beteasy odds: $4.80

The five-time G1 winner is back for a second crack at The Everest, having finished sixth last year when finding the track too heavy for his liking. He had his colours lowered in the Chairmans Sprint in Hong Kong earlier this year, but he wasn’t helped by a lack of pace on that occasion. He won’t have any issues getting a solid tempo here. He has won twice at the track/distance and holds the track record over 1200m when winning the Premiere Stakes in 2018. His lead-up run in the Gilgai was perfect preparation for this, getting home in 33.07 for the final 600m (quickest by 0.32) to finish second to Sunlight.

2. Pierata (AUS) (1) J: Tommy Berry T: Gregory Hickman Odds: $5.50

He was tested over a mile early in his career, but has flourished over the sprint trips over the past 12 months. He won the Sydney Stakes on this day last year, running the 1200m in quicker time than Redzel in The Everest. He picked up his first Group One win during the autumn in the All Aged (1400m) and his two runs back from a spell have been very impressive. He reeled-off a 33.31 for the final 600m on a Soft 7 track to claim The Shorts last start by 0.5L over Classique Legend.

3. Redzel (AUS) (7) J: Kerrin McEvoy T: Peter & Paul Snowden Odds: $10

Can he make it three straight wins in The Everest? He enters the race in similar form to last season, having taken out the G3 Concorde fresh before finishing third to Pierata last time out. He put in a sharp piece of work over 1000m last week at Gosford to have him cherry ripe for Saturday. His best form has come in his spring campaigns. He’s got great gate speed and that should see him lob in front of Nature Strip initially from barrier 7. He was advantaged by the conditions last year and will have to do it on a good track this time around.

Redzel is chasing a three-peat. Picture: Nikki Short

4. Nature Strip (AUS) (12) J: Tim Clark T: Chris Waller Odds: $23

He was up to his old tricks first-up in the Concorde Stakes, over-racing as James McDonald tried to get him to settle in the run. The plan of getting him to settle was thrown out the window following that performance and the change of tactics worked at The Valley, with Nature Strip driving up from the inside draw to lead and hold on by a head to claim the G1. The query remains his ability to run a strong six furlongs. He was successful at his last attempt over the trip, but that was over a year ago at Listed level. He will also need to jump better than he did in the Moir, or be forced to do a fair bit of work from the outside gate.

5. Trekking (AUS) (5) J: Joshua Parr T: James Cummings Odds: $21

The Godolphin gelding picked up a spot in the race at the 11th hour thanks to his win in last week’s Schillaci Stakes. He was a G1 winner during the Brisbane winter carnival in the Stradbroke, but that wasn’t against the class of horses he faces here and was also under handicap conditions. He wasn’t far away however first-up in the G1 Moir Stakes when 1.65L off Nature Strip and is capable of a top six finish.

6. Classique Legend (AUS) (8) J: Nash Rawiller T: Les Bridge Odds: $14

He charged onto the scene in his first preparation of racing, progressing from a maiden to a G2 win in the Arrowfield within four starts by the end of the autumn. He’s had two runs back from a spell, finishing runner-up to Pierata (beaten 0.5L) in The Shorts and third to Brutal in the Premiere Stakes, beaten just under a length. On those two performances he’ll need to find a bit of improvement, but the key could be getting back to a good track. He hasn’t been on a firm surface since his 6L romp in a BM70 back in March.

7. Ten Sovereigns (IRE) (11) J: Ryan Moore T: Aidan O’Brien Odds: $26

The sole international contender in the race, with Aidan O’Brien bringing a sprinter out from Ireland for the second consecutive year (US Navy Flag finished 9th in 2018). Ten Sovereigns was a dominant winner of the G1 July Cup at Newmarket over six furlongs, defeating Advertise by 2.6L, who was a subsequent G1 winner in France. That performance saw him start favourite in the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes, but he was no match for the brilliant Battaash over 1000m, finishing 7.5L off the winner. The rise back to 1200m will suit, but barrier 11 could prove a tricky gate and there’s a query on how he’ll handle the bend.

Alizee is tendered to by a stable hand following a morning track work session. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

8. Alizee (AUS) (10) J: Hugh Bowman T: James Cummings Odds: $17

Godolphin made their decision late on who they would run in The Everest, but Alizee always had pole position given she was rested following the Memsie in preparation for the race. The five-year-old mare is at her best fresh, having won four of five first-up. She got the job done first-up in the Missile Stakes — just — as the $1.30F in what was a hard race to assess. The lack of pace forced Hugh Bowman to make an early move and hit the front a long way from home. She’s won four of seven over 1200m, but is yet to face a sprint field of this quality.

9. Sunlight (AUS) (6) J: Luke Currie T: Tony & Calvin McEvo Odds: $14

Since the start of spring Tony McEvoy has maintained that the mare always improves throughout a preparation and would be at her best fourth-up into The Everest. To date, she has improved with each run, taking out the Gilgai Stakes by 0.5L over Santa Ana Lane last time out. Another factor in Sunlight’s favour is the dry track, with all of her 11 wins coming on a good surface. She won’t be far off the leaders from barrier 6 and looks the value runner in the race at around $15.

10. In Her Time (AUS) (4) J: Brenton Avdulla T: Kris Lees Odds: $26

Connections have elected to head to The Everest first-up with the seven-year-old mare, who had her latest trial last week at Gosford when running second to Redzel. She boasts a terrific first-up record (8:5-0-1), including a win down the Flemington straight in the Lightning (1000m) earlier this year, defeating Osborne Bulls and Sunlight. She’s raced against Santa Ana Lane four times since last spring and while it’s been advantage-Santa in all four runs, there’s been little between them.

11. Arcadia Queen (AUS) (3) J: James McDonald T: Chris Waller Odds: $5.50

The Pierro mare was sent east this campaign to target the spring riches in Sydney and enters the race second-up after taking out the Theo Marks over 1300m. She took up a positive position from the inside draw on that occasion and easily accounted for her rivals, defeating Trope by 1.8L. She was back to the trials at the start of the month, winning over 1030m with J-Mac barely moving a muscle. As brilliant as she is — winning six of seven starts — the query is whether she’ll be sharp enough over the trip against this quality of opposition. Her only run over 1200m was on debut in a maiden.

Arcadia Queen. Picture: David Swift.

12. Yes Yes Yes (AUS) (9) J: Glen Boss T: Chris Waller Odds: $8.50

Three-year-old colt Yes Yes Yes will step out of his own age group for the first time and will also have blinkers going on for the first time. The son of Rubick has finished runner-up to Bivouac in his two runs to date this preparation. The three-year-old form looks strong, with both the Run to the Rose and Golden Rose run in good time. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him measure up against the older horses with 53kg on his back. He is likely to settle back after drawing out in barrier 9.

SPEED MAP

Nature Strip is the likely leader from the outside draw, but he’ll need to jump well otherwise face doing a fair bit of work early to cross Redzel or be forced to sit wide throughout. Redzel is bombproof out of the gates and will be up on the speed from barrier 7, while Sunlight will also be handy from gate 6. James McDonald will want to use the low draw aboard Arcadia Queen, as he did in the Theo Marks, to ensure he doesn’t get too far back in the ruck on the mare.

VERDICT

What a cracking race it promises to be and the evenness of the field makes it incredibly hard to be confident. Santa Ana Lane (1) goes on top, but don’t take anything under the current quote of $4.80. Sunlight (9) appeals as the best each-way play in the race coming off her best run for the spring down in Melbourne. Pierata (2) has been in sensational form and if the track is playing fairly, look for him to be charging up the inside from barrier 1. Arcadia Queen (11) could be a freak, with the four-year-old still on the improve having only had the seven career starts to date. In Her Time (10) looks a big price given her consistency in the big sprint races.

1. Santa Ana Lane

2. Sunlight

3. Pierata

4. Arcadia Queen

5. In Her Time

This article was originally published by punters.com.au and reproduced with permission