The Strip is raging favourite to win The Everest and take career prizemoney to $25.26m
Nature Strip tipped to have a field day ... unless another is in the right place, at the right time, with the right run.
Eduardo
Trainer Joe Pride is called the Wayne Bennett of horse trainers. Which means he’s either expert at turning run-of-the-mill competitors into superstars or he can’t get Cameron Munster to join the Redcliffe Dolphins. Like a few of Bennett’s players, Eduardo can’t survive without one essential piece of equipment. Ear muffs.
Ingratiating
In a sporting shock to rival Sandpapergate, Israel Folau’s sacking and the Essendon doping scandal, or at the very least Scott Boland’s selection for the Boxing Day Test, Ingratiating gets a start in The Everest. Cricket’s a funny old game and Boland was a winner. Don’t expect the same fairytale result from Ingratiating. Racing’s not that funny.
Joyful Fortune
Likely to start quicker than Liam Adams, the gloriously mad bugger who took off like a rocket at the start of the Commonwealth Games’ marathon. Likely to do another Adams by conking out well before the finishing line. Likely to do an Adams once more by admitting in his post-race interview, “I was just guessing the whole way.”
Lost And Running
Haunted by his name. Jumps from the gates and thinks, “I’ve blown it already? Where am I going? I don’t know what I’m doing with my life.” Jockey Hugh Bowman occasionally gives the gelding “a cuddle”. He’s not alone there. Trainer John O’Shea bought him for $40,000. Current prizemoney? Nearly $3m. There’s a name for that, too. Winning.
Masked Crusader
Enjoys the Michael Keaton portrayal of his namesake. Less keen on Christian Bale and Ben Affleck. Went oh-so-close to winning last year. He was last before Ka-pow! Bam! Codswallop! He finished quicker than a Batmobile to trail Nature Strip by a nostril. Currently sick of being told that you’ve gotta lose one to win one. But maybe you do.
Mazu
In Chinese mythology, Mazu is the goddess of the sea. Ideal for the forecast heavy track. In Japanese, it translates to “in first place”. A position familiar to trainers Peter and Paul Snowden. One profile of the latter suggested he “won the first two editions of The Everest”. Funny, we thought that was Redzel. Can’t recall Snowden even running a place.
Nature Strip
Has something in common with golfer Cam Smith. Ridiculously wealthy. The Strip is raging favourite to win The Everest and take his career prizemoney to $25.26m. Asked what he plans to do with all the money, he looks around his stable, shrugs and repeats one of Smith’s more famous quotes: “I don’t know! I’m pretty set, to be honest!”
Overpass
Women’s sport is on the up and up in Australia. Cricketers are all-conquering. The Matildas are adored. Steph Gilmore’s a marvel. Emma McKeon and Ariarne Titmus are as good as it gets. An Overpass win will be another landmark occasion. Not for the horse, he’s a bloke. A win for Rachel King would be the first for a female jockey.
Private Eye
Likes to take a look around. Seriously! Sits back in the pack before choosing the right moment to strike. Worthy of investigation but suffers from relentless teasing around the barnyard. He puts up with, “That’ll do, Nancy Drew,” and references to Hercule Poirot and Jessica Fletcher but draws the line at “No s..t, Sherlock.”
Shades Of Rose
Where’s the real Rose? Injured? Unavailable? Why are they running a poor imitation? Form guides breathlessly mention the mare’s win at Bathurst. Can’t recall if that was for Ford or Holden. Tried to throw her jockey from the saddle in July. Advised to keep this one on board. She’ll be ridden by triple Everest winner Kerrin McEvoy.
Giga Kick
The Everest is like a daycare centre. Lots of unpredictable three-year-olds. They’re offering value for money with bookies but don’t be tempted. The race has never been won by a horse paying more than $9. It’s more predictable than you think. One of the top few favourites will likely again be the winner … and that ain’t Giga Kick.
Jacquinot
“If Nature Strip brings his A-game, he’s unbeatable,” says co-trainer Michael Kent. “But they’re not robots. So you’ve got to be in the race to win it and then if your horse is in the right place, right time, right run and has got that ability, you never know.” Which tells you everything you need to know about The Everest. The favourite should win … but you never quite know for sure.
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