THE WORLD’S richest race on turf – The TAB Everest – dominates Sydney racing tomorrow on the same day one of this country’s recognised ‘Majors’ – the Caulfield Cup – is staged.
The Everest goes for a whopping $14 million while the Caulfield Cup has a $5 million carrot.
The Sydney-based race has been going for five minutes (this is year three actually) while the Caulfield Cup has a long and proud history, more than 100-years in the making.
Anyway, for all the politics and ranting and raving over the races clashing, my job is to find the winner of The Everest.
And that, from what I have discovered, does not seem all that easy!
In what is truly an awesome field of sprinters with amazing depth right back to the last runner, the main chances may be a few of the so-called ‘obvious’ runners.
Last year on a heavy track SANTA ANA LANE ($4.20 fav) finished a creditable sixth to dual winner, REDZEL ($9.50), again a combatant this year.
Six months later on soft ground he charged home from last to easily win the Group 1 $2.5 million T. J. Smith Stakes in Sydney.
His first-up effort at Flemington in the Group 2 Gilgai behind SUNLIGHT, on a day when it was tough to make ground away from the fence, was outstanding.
That day SUNLIGHT ($14) led on the rail while SANTA ANA LANE was forced to come wide.
He charged home to run a close second suggesting he has returned every bit as good as he was in the autumn. And this year The Everest will be run on firm ground.
The somewhat under-rated PIERATA ($6.00), already the winner of $3.6 million in stakes, has fabulous form leading into The Everest.
Throw in barrier 1 and the fact he goes into the race off the back of a stunning win in the Group 2 The Shorts last start, and he looks tough to beat.
The huge X-factor horse in this race this year is the WA mare ARCADIA QUEEN ($5.00), the winner of six of just seven starts.
She has extraordinary ability and seems to have the turn of foot to win over just about any distance.
We have seen her just once on the eastern seaboard when she started odds-on and won the Group 2 Theo Marks (1300m) at Rosehill last month like a track gallop.
ARCADIA QUEEN is prepared by the country’s biggest trainer – Chris Waller – and has super-jockey James McDonald in the saddle – so she ticks many boxes.
As you would expect in a field of this class there is very good speed – REDZEL, NATURE STRIP and SUNLIGHT are all speed horses ensuring a solid gallop.
From barrier two SANTA ANA LANE should be no further back than midfield while PIERATA is likely to be a length or two closer.
Whatever happens before the turn, both horses will be coiled and ready to explode down the long Royal Randwick straight.
Unless it’s wet REDZEL may struggle to win, but he’s a star and always super-competitive.
SUNLIGHT is often under-rated and she will be tough to hold out, while Godolphin’s brilliant mare, ALIZEE ($10) can never be left out in any race she contests.
Legendary Irish trainer, Aiden O’Brien, has TEN SOVEREIGNS in the race. He’s a winner of four of just seven starts, including the Group 1 July Cup.
He’s young and fast and has the services of world class jockey Ryan Moore. A wide barrier may be the only negative for this son of No Nay Never.
The others with claims are top quality mare IN HER TIME ($19) and the improving three-year-old YES YES YES ($9.50).
As it should be with $14 million on the line, this is truly a fantastic race.
For mine SANTA ANA LANE and PIERATA are drawn best, map best, and have the best form. That will do me!
Good luck!
