<p>The Everest is undoubtedly the most successful innovation in thoroughbred racing in Australia in the past 50 years. The 1200-metre dash – billed as the richest turf race in the world – is the perfect showcase of what Australian racing is good at - breeding and racing the world’s fastest sprinters.</p> <p>The concept of The Everest means that 12 slot holders – each paying $700,000 per annum for the privilege – get to select a horse to represent them in the quest to win The Everest after behind-the-scenes negotiations with the owners of the horses concerning the prize money split. Usually, it will be divided 50-50.</p> <p>This is the seventh edition of The Everest. The past winners are: Redzel (2017 &amp; 2018); Yes Yes Yes (2019); Classique Legend (2020); Nature Strip (2021); Giga Kick (2022) and Think About It (2023).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Everest 2024 Preview and Details</h2> <p><strong>Track:</strong> Randwick.</p> <p><strong>Distance: </strong>1200m.</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Saturday, October 19, 2024.</p> <p><strong>Total prizemoney:</strong> $20 million.</p> <p><strong>First prize: </strong>$7 million.</p> <p><strong>The Everest: </strong>Race 7 (4.15 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Weather and Track</h3> <p>The Randwick track managers have declared a Soft 5 surface on Thursday. This should provide a fair and suitable track to give all runners their chance. Rain is predicted on Friday, but the temperature will remain in the mid-20s, so expect the track to remain in that soft range.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Everest 2024 Contenders</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>Unusually, the 2024 The Everest field, as of September 25, is only half full of six horses with a slot. The Everest field is limited to 12 starters. The slot holders so far:</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>I Wish I Win</strong> (slot holder: Trackside Media)</p> <p>Trainers: Peter Moody &amp; Katherine Coleman</p> <p>His trainers race him sparingly, and he rarely runs poorly. He just failed to catch Think About It in last year’s The Everest. Primed by Moody and Coleman to go one better this year.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Bella Nipotina</strong> (TAB)</p> <p>Trainer: Ciaron Maher</p> <p>The grand old dame of Australian sprinting. She has hardly missed a beat in the past 12 months.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Joliestar </strong>(Chris Waller Racing and partners)</p> <p>Trainer: Chris Waller</p> <p>Last season, she was a star 3YO, winning feature races in the spring and autumn. Her trainer, Chris Waller, has fashioned her into a pure sprinter. He is chasing his third The Everest win after winning with another three-year-old in Yes Yes Yes in 2019 and the legendary Nature Strip (2021).&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Stefi Magnetica</strong> (Newgate Farm &amp; GPI Racing)</p> <p>Trainer: Bjorn Baker</p> <p>Stefi is an emerging mare who deserves to be one of The Everest favourites. She possesses one of the key attributes of past The Everest winners – a powerful finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Bustling</strong> (Max Whitby, Col Madden &amp; Neil Werrett)</p> <p>Trainers: Mick Price &amp; Michael Kent Jnr</p> <p>Price and Kent are now training WA’s star colt from last season. His first-up eighth behind Traffic Warden in the G2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill doesn’t inspire confidence that he can win a The Everest.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Sunshine In Paris</strong> (Fairway Thoroughbreds)</p> <p>Trainers: Annabel Neasham &amp; Rob Archibald</p> <p>SIP was poised to run in The Everest last year, but an injury forced her out of the race. Her win in the G2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on September 14 was brilliant. Joliestar was third. Goes into The Everest without another run.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p>Two trainers have won multiple The Everests – Chris Waller (Yes Yes Yes 2019 and Nature Strip 2021) and partners Peter and Paul Snowden (Redzel 2017 and 2018). Les Bridge (Classique Legend 2020), Clayton Douglas (Giga Kick 2022) and Joe Pride (Think About It 2023) are the other winning trainers.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p>The jockey with the most wins is Kerrin McEvoy, who won the first two on Redzel (2017, 2018) and Classique Legend in 2020. Other current winning jockeys are James McDonald (Nature Strip 2021), Craig Williams (Giga Kick 2022) and Sam Clipperton (Think About It 2023).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>The Everest 2024 Racing Tips</h2> <h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h3>The Top Tip</h3> <p><strong>I Wish I Win</strong></p> <p>Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will haave been pleased that I Wish I Win has drawn a wide barrier (9), because he’s a horse who needs galloping room so he can produce his big finish. They will have had nightmares after last year when I Wish I Win drew inside and didn’t get a run until too late, and just failed to beat Think About It. The prospect of a soft track also will suit this horse.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Stefi Magnetica</strong></p> <p>Stefi produced a big finish to nearly beat I Am Me in The Shorts at Randwick in her only appearance this season back on September 21. Like her trainer Bjorn Baker, she’s named after a tennis player and she’s good enough to ace this field with the right run.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Growing Empire</strong></p> <p>He’s aiming to be the third 3YO to win The Everest, and he’s every bit as good as the other two – Giga Kick and Yes Yes Yes. He possesses a dynamic sprint and his jockey Kerrin McEvoy has won this race three times.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Joliestar</strong></p> <p>She was the boom horse at the start of the spring, but lost some admirers with her defeat in the Sheraco Stakes. James McDonald rides for Chris Waller – it’s a lethal big-race combination.</p> <p>Bella Nipotina: There is no more consistent sprinter in Australia than this tough, old mare. Ignore her wide draw at your peril … she will be whooshing home.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Roughy</h3> <p><strong>Giga Kick</strong></p> <p>He won this race two years ago when a raw 3YO. He’s been in the wilderness with injury since, but there have been signs he’s on the way back. James McDonald has jumped off him in preference to Joliestar, but Mark Zahra takes the ride. Don’t be surprise if he’s in the finish.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Horses Aiming for a Place in The Everest Field</h3> <p><strong>Giga Kick</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Clayton Douglas</p> <p>He has been struggling with injury since the autumn of 2023. He won The Everest as a 3YO in 2022. Recent trial form suggests he’s on track.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>I Am Me</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Ciaron Maher</p> <p>Wins in two key lead-up races have her set for a slot in The Everest. She has a scintillating burst of speed.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Private Eye</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Joe Pride</p> <p>Veteran sprinter who has been placed in the past two The Everests – second behind Giga Kick (2022) and third behind stablemate Think About It last year. Too good to dismiss.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Think About It</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Joe Pride</p> <p>He won eight races on end before beating I Wish I Win and Private Eye in last year’s The Everest. Hasn’t won since after being tried over longer distances. Trial form suggests he’s on the way back. If he finds something like his best form, he is definitely over the odds.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Overpass</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Bjorn Baker</p> <p>Overpass led before finishing 10th in last year’s The Everest. Either side of that he’s won two The Quokka (1200m) slot races and the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m). More seasoned for a better performance.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Growing Empire</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Ciaron Maher</p> <p>Super colt who has dominated the sprints against the three-year-olds. Giga Kick and&nbsp; Yes Yes Yes have proven that three-year-olds can win this race.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Traffic Warden</strong></p> <p>Trainer: James Cummings</p> <p>The Godolphin team will be looking for a The Everest runner, and this colt could be&nbsp;</p> <p>the one.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Hayasugi</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Clinton McDonald</p> <p>No three-year-old filly has won The Everest. She’s a strong filly who keeps improving.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Chain Of Lightning</strong></p> <p>Trainers: Peter Moody &amp; Katherine Coleman</p> <p>She had her party when she won the G1 TJ Smith over The Everest course and distance in the autumn.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Estriella</strong></p> <p>Trainer: Ciaron Maher</p> <p>Brilliant but frail filly. She has the talent to be in The Everest mix, but does she have the constitution? She’s been ordinary since. Will need it wet.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lady Of Camelot</strong><br /> <br /> Trainers: Gai Waterhouse &amp; Adrian Bott</p> <p>The 2024 Golden Slipper winner. No Slipper winner has won The Everest.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Lead Up Races</h3> <p><strong>G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley, September 7.</strong></p> <p>The Moir Stakes was won by Mornington Glory, who will not be pursuing a start in The Everest. However, behind him where six horses climbing The Everest path, including early The Everest favourite, I Wish I Win, who finished on strongly for fifth in an unsuitable race over 1000m. The filly Hayasugi confirmed her class with a solid second, just ahead of Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot and the luckless Estriella, who raced wide. Chain Of Lightning and Caballus didn’t get into the race and finished at the tail.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>G2 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick, September 7.</strong></p> <p>The Ciaron Maher-trained mares I Am Me fought out the Concorde Stakes, run on a Good 4 surface. I Am Me continued her tremendous first-up record (six starts, four wins) to track the pace and sprint home quickly. Bella Nipotina ran a bottler, charging home late to just fail. The fast Way To The Stars was fourth ahead of the veteran sprinter Private Eye and the 2022 The Everest winner Giga Kick. Both these sprinters raced “rusty” and will improve.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>G2 The Shorts (1100m) at Rosehill, September 21.</strong></p> <p>I Am Me produced a similar effort to her Concorde win to capitalise on her inside draw, track the speed and sprint quickly. She just lasted from the brilliant Stefi Magnetica, who charged late along the rails. It was Stefi’s first run since winning the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June. Mazu, who ran in The Everest in 2023 and 2022, finished third. The eye-catching run (pun intended) came from Private Eye, who got going strongly over the last 200m to finish sixth.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, September 27</strong></p> <p>The Manikato Stakes, in its new date, is perfectly set up to be a pivotal lead-up to The Everest. In the past it has been run a week after The Everest. I Wish I Win will have his final warm-up for the big event. Others chasing a slot in The Everest include the exciting, unbeaten colt Growing Empire, Estriella, Chain Of Lightning, Caballus, Coleman and Hayasugi.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>G2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, October 5</strong></p> <p>The Premiere Stakes has been moved from its early spring date to be the last chance for slot holders to secure a runner in The Everest field</p>