complete field, odds, and top betting tips
It’s back to the international racing scene this weekend, and this time to go down under, as we head to the Sydney area for The Everest, which is now known as Australia’s richest race.
Prestigious in nature and won by some of the best short-distance horses in the world over the last few years, the Everest is a premier sprint race, run over over 1200 metres, or six furlongs in British racing terms, at Royal Randwick Racecourse.
The Everest is now Australia’s number one prize in horse racing, surpassing even the legendary Melbourne Cup in terms of prize money. The winning connections of this year’s Everest renewal will scoop no less than $7,000,000 in prize money, while even connections of the second place horse will claim $2,900,000. $2,000,000 goes to third place, so it’s absolutely fair to say that this is a contest that the biggest and best yards in Australia all want to win.
Field for The Everest 2023
Contents
- 1 Field for The Everest 2023
- 1.8 Alcohol Free (trained by G & A Bott, ridden Craig Williams)
Each year, a field of 12 horses line-up for this 1200-metre dash. This year’s field a competitive one, that’s for sure. Below is each and every runner due to run in this top-class event:
I Wish I Win (trained by Peter Moody, ridden by Luke Nolen)
Big player for top trainer and jockey combination, who ran a cracker over five furlongs in the Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington back in February, running on strongly. That form looks strong, as does the form of his Group 1 win over course and distance last Autumn. As a result, he’s likely to go off as a very well supported runner. Hugely serious contender.
Private Eye (trained by Joseph Pride, ridden by Nash Rawiller)
Very useful sprinter on his day, one who rarely runs a bad race. Doesn’t often get his head in front, but did win the valuable Gilgai Stakes at Flemington back in October of last year, before finishing second in this race, beaten half a length by Giga Kick. Comes from a top yard and clearly has plenty of quality if on a going day. Dangerous to dismiss.
Serial winner, who arrives here in fine form having won each of his last seven races, including two Group 1’s. Another runner for the top Joseph Pride stable, so cannot be dismissed. Likely to be very well supported and should challenge I Wish I Win for favouritism. He’s yet to be fully exposed and may yet turn out to be a bit special. Wouldn’t be a surprise winner, that’s for sure.
Mazu (trained by Peter & Snowden, ridden by Tommy Berry)
Impressed early on in his career but it’s been a while since he matched that form now. Arrives here for strong connections, what with his training duo winning the first two runs of this event, while he has won at this venue before, though you’d have to say that he’s got something to find with the chief protagonists. Seems far from the most likely winner.
Overpass (trained by Josh Parr, ridden by Bjorn Baker)
Front-runner, who has the quality to get the job done, even at this level, though kicking from the front and holding on against this lot will be far from easy, especially with something like I Wish I Win expected to finish with a rapid flourish. His win at Perth in April was impressive, but it will be harder to repeat those tactics at Randwick, where he hasn’t thrived in the past.
Buenos Noches (trained by Matthew Smith, ridden by Dylan Gibbons)
Hails from another very smart trainer, while it’s no bad thing that he’s shown a liking to Randwick in recent times, winning over course and distance not that long ago. Can close from off the pace but probably has a little bit to find to really test the main players.
Hawaii Five Oh (trained by G & A Bot, ridden by James McDonald)
Lightly raced type who has shown plenty of promise, that’s for sure. Is another runner with top connections, while he got close to Think About It last time out, running on strongly. Probably needs to finds slight improvement to win this, but he’s lightly raced, so another step in the right direction shouldn’t be ruled out. Another who is dangerous to dismiss.
Alcohol Free (trained by G & A Bott, ridden Craig Williams)
Arrives here for the same trainer at Hawaii Five Oh, and will run in the hands of last year’s winning jockey, which is absolutely not a bad thing. Previously trained by Andrew Balding and won some top sprints in England, but has since gone off the boil and now needs to be revived on Australian shores. Hard to see her getting seriously involved at the death.
In Secret (trained by James Cummings, Zac Purton)
Has the world renowned power of Godolphin behind her and has won some top sprint races, including two Group 1’s on the international stage, so it would be wrong to dismiss her here, though she will need to improve on a couple of slightly below-par runs of late. Perhaps an each-way shout at best.
Espiona (trained by Chris Waller, ridden by Hugh Bowman)
Trained by the excellent Chris Waller, who is no stranger to readying a horse for a race of this nature. Won over further last time out, so little concern over stamina, which would be beneficial if the ground softened. However, most of her best form was produced when she was a younger horse, so it’s fair to say that she now has something to find with the best of these.
Shinzo (trained by Chris Waller, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy)
Golden Slipper winner who commands respect for the very good Chris Waller yard. Also ridden by the jockey who has won three of the previous six renewals of this race, but like many horses who win the Golden Slipper, he disappointed last time out on her first start this time around. Is entitled to come on from that, but needs to if she’s going to win this.
Cylinder (trained by James Cummings, ridden by Zac Lloyd)
The other three-year-old in the race, who finished behind Shinzo in that Golden Slipper. There was little wrong with her third in the Golden Rose last time out, and she ought to appreciated this slight drop back in trip. This is absolutely her toughest mission yet, but there’s no reason why she can’t run well. Genuine place claims.
The Everest Betting Odds
Here’s how the early betting is shaping up ahead of the 2023 renewal of this top race:
Think About It – 10/3
I Wish I Win – 7/2
Private Eye – 11/2
Cylinder – 9/1
In Secret – 11/1
Overpass – 11/1
Hawaii Five Oh – 14/1
Espiona – 16/1
Shinzo – 16/1
Buenos Noches – 18/1
Alcohol Free – 66/1
Our betting tips and predictions for The Everest
Anything but an easy race to call and even though there are some standout contenders, it’s hard to confidently say that any of these runners will get the job done and mean it. However, I am a little surprised that one horse is a little shorter in the early betting.
Our best prediction: I Wish I Win @ 7/2 (4.50)
Of course, as mentioned above, this is a very tough race to call, the lack of a real out-and-out short-priced favourite shows that, but the stellar combination of Peter Moody and Luke Nolen is often an irresistible one, so I am a little surprised to see that I Wish I Win is not shorter than an early price of 7/2. At such odds, he’s the best option for me.
To be honest, he looked a real class act when winning at Sandown Hillside last year, while the way in which he finished at in the hugely valuable Black Caviar Lightning in February really did catch the eye. He finished in front of home top horses that day, powering home as an extra furlong would’ve seen him come out on top and not by a fine margin either. Such form is hard to ignore, plus he was a good course and distance winner not that long ago. His fast-finishing hold-up style works well at Randwick and with a slightly chunky-looking 7/2 available, I’m betting him to fly up the straight and snatch victory late in the day.
