We are just under three weeks away from the world’s richest race on turf as things begin to take shape for The Everest 2022. The best sprinter in the world in Nature Strip will be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the race and he looks to be going as good as ever. This year will mark the 6th edition of the $15m slot holder race with nine horses now locked in to run.
Read on below as Billy Bestford previews the contenders for this year’s feature sprint and some other possible horses who will be hoping to gain an entry into the race.
The Everest 2022 - Confirmed Runners
Nature Strip
Slot Holder: (Chris Waller Racing)
Current Price: $2.10 at TAB
Not much has to be said about this mighty sprinter. He is arguably the world’s best horse and seemingly looks to be racing as good as ever and continues to dominate the sprinting ranks in Australia and abroad. He went over to Royal Ascot and made a mess of them in the King Stand Stakes before returning to Australian shores and bolting in on resumption when winning The Shorts. He can reel off some numbers which no other horse in the land can match and if he puts it all together on race day here, the rest of them will be running for 2nd.
Lost And Running
Slot Holder: TAB
Current Price: $6.00 at TAB
There is no doubt Lost And Running is one of the country’s best sprinters on his day but he generally needs plenty of things in his favour. His return in The Shorts saw him trim right up in the market and made many punters take note with a barnstorming finish to run 2nd behind Nature Strip. He probably needs a dry track (which is a rarity in Sydney these days) but he has a serious turn of foot and his 4th in this race last year was impressive. He could be going even better now this prep?
Jacquinot
Slot Holder: Coolmore
Current Price: $11.00 at TAB
Super exciting to have another 3-year old contest this race and off the back of his enormous Golden Rose win, many think he’s not without a chance. Yes Yes Yes is the prime example, winning this race as a 3yo off the back a 2nd in the Rose in 2019. Personally I’m not sure Jacquinot is the level that Yes Yes Yes was and I don’t think he can afford to spot some of these older sprinters too much of a start and be able to run them down. I do like the 3yo blood in the race but he looks short enough in early markets.
Mazu
Slot Holder: Arrowfield and The Star
Current Price: $11.00 at TAB
Incredible how far this Snowden-trained colt has come in a short amount of time. Since being gelded he won five races on the bounce and was a real beneficiary of the wet Sydney tracks back in the Autumn. It was a solid enough return from him when running 5th in The Shorts taking on the big boys of the sprinting ranks for the first time and I’m sure he will be fitter for that. If he gets a wet track I think he comes right into the numbers.
Eduardo
Slot Holder: Yulong
Current Price: $15.00 at TAB
This horse is a marvel and continues to race as well as ever since turning nine. He has the scalp of Nature Strip a number of times and that alone means he has to be right in with a chance in this race. Will be making his own luck out in front and is as tough as nails when challenged in the straight. You can guarantee the stable will have him primed and ready to go for this as he looks to improve on his close 3rd from last year. He’s the one you could back at the current price and expect he shortens up come race day.
Masked Crusader
Slot Holder: Max Whitby
Current Price: $15.00 at TAB
What a run from Masked Crusader in last year’s race when charging home along the fence to just miss Nature Strip in a tight go. He was infront 20m past the post and when on song, this horse is as good as any in this race. His racing pattern is usually the issue for him, always needing a bit of luck from back in the pack. It was a nice return from him in The Shorts and he is much better suited out to 1200m. If he runs well again in The Premiere on Saturday I expect he will shorten up from the current $15.
Overpass
Slot Holder: James Kennedy
Current Price: $15.00 at TAB
Only just announced, the Bjorn Baker horse deserves his chance at an Everest tilt. He has come of age in the last year and off the back of his enormous run in The Shorts I think he has come back in the best form of his career. He raced keen there and was caught a touch wide when turning but let down nicely to finish 2nd to Nature Strip. The stable are airborne at the moment and he is a place chance here.
Snapdancer
Slot Holder: Inglis
Current Price: $17.00 at TAB
No one will begrudge Snapdancer for getting a run in this rich race with his bulletproof on-speed racing style making him well liked with the punters. He is always in for the fight and has such a high cruising speed making it tough to make ground on him. A slight query would be he comes into this off a 1400m win in The Memsie and I doubt the stable will have had The Everest at the front of their mind for this prep. Not sure his form can measure up to some of these.
Joyful Fortune
Slot Holder: Aquis
Current Price: $26.00 at TAB
Massive call from Aquis to select this ex Hong Kong sprinter who is coming off a bm70 win at Flemington. No doubt it was super impressive and the horse has a stack of upside but this is a huge step up for him. For the sake of the race I don’t mind him being here and it adds to the excitement with some fresh blood in a race which generally produces similar fields year in year out. Who knows where his ceiling is and what a story it would be but he is very hard to line up. Top 6 would be a big result for his connections.
The Everest 2022 - The Hopefuls
Coolangatta
Current Price: $26.00 at TAB
She is coming off a group one victory in The Moir down at Moonee Valley and had been trialling up really nicely leading into this prep. Think she has come back in terrific order this time in. She’d be 3rd up into this race and while it would be tough to see a 3yo filly win, she makes her own luck up on speed and has the talent to finish in the top five.
Bella Nipotina
Current Price: $21.00 at TAB
She would be a real smokey to run a place if she gained a start in this. Bella Nipotina is in career-best form and arguably she should have won the Moir last week. She is flying and I think Randwick suits her racing style. If the rain comes she will have no issues.
Paulele
Current Price: $23.00 at TAB
With Godolphin yet to select their runner for this year’s race you’d have to expect this horse is probably their number one seed. He started favourite in The Moir first up but was disappointing which is a concern. With that said he is better out to 1200m and is Group one placed at this trip and 1300m. He has the quality to finish top half of the field.
Artorius
Current Price: $26.00 at TAB
It’s tough to get excited about backing this guy but he would add some great spectacle to this race. We all know his get-back and run on style has cost him plenty of races but he is a group one horse and I have no doubts the stable have brought him back from the UK in hope of gaining a start here. Imagine seeing him fly down the outside and finally stick his neck out for a win!
