Everest Horse Racing
Despite the name, the Everest Horse Racing is not a Group race. It is a Weight for Age Thoroughbred race run over 1,200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia.
Giga Kick won the inaugural race in 2014
Giga Kick won the inaugural race of The Everest horse racing in 2014 and has now banked $7142200 for owner Jonathon Munz. It was the biggest upset of The Everest in its six-year history and punters were left awestruck.
In the two-year-old season, Giga Kick won the HG Tavern Danehill Stakes (G2) at Flemington. He then followed up with a four-length win at the Sale in February.
Giga Kick was imported from Europe through Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock. He is a son of Scissor Kick and is out of the mare Rekindled Applause. He is the tenth foal out of the dam Rekindled Affair. He is a half-brother to G1 Caulfield Cup winner Durston and the Irish Derby winner Grey Swallow.
Giga Kick has won five races and has maintained his unbeaten record. He is trained by Clayton Douglas. He is the first undefeated horse to win The Everest.
Giga Kick is trained by Clayton Douglas and won the first edition of The Everest horse racing at Randwick. He also won the VRC Champions Sprint in 2021. He will be one of the early favourites for the 2022 Champions Sprint. The field for the race will be announced on the day after the Melbourne Cup.
Giga Kick's win came after a whirlwind of offers for the gelding in Hong Kong. He was offered $700,000 and it wasn't until after his debut that he qualified for rating status. He was also the first to do double since Glamour Puss (2005).
Giga Kick has now won more than one Everest. He is also the youngest winner in the race's history. He is only three days away from his third birthday. His win has fast-tracked him to racing stardom.
Nature Strip won the inaugural race in 2015
Described as the'most polarising' horse in Australia, Nature Strip is a rising eight-year-old who has won more races than he lost. He has won six Group 1 races in April and is a contender for the Royal Ascot Platinum Jubilee Stakes. Nature Strip is also a top contender for the Everest, the world's richest turf race.
It isn't surprising that the reigning champion of the Australian sprint is Nature Strip. He has won nine Group 1 races, including the Rubiton Stakes and the $3m Darley Champions Sprint Classic at Flemington on November 5. Nature Strip is a talented horse who has earned over $18 million in prize money. He is one of Australia's most successful sprinters of all time.
The Darley Sprint Classic was Nature Strip's first win over 1200m. Nature Strip beat the likes of Eduardo and Pierata. Despite having to battle wide, he managed to hold on to win the race by three and a half lengths.
The Darley Sprint Classic was a race in which Nature Strip beat his rivals, but it was not the defining moment of his career. His victory was also his first Group 1 win in Australia. He had to dig deep to beat Masked Crusader.
The Darley Sprint Classic was essentially a prep for The Everest, which will take place in mid-October from next year on. The race is the richest turf race in the world, and is run on Randwick's turf.
Despite not being able to beat Nature Strip in The Everest, the champion is expected to run at Royal Ascot in 2022, completing a hat-trick of wins at Sydney's most prestigious sprint. The Shorts is another good lead-up race, with a total of US$500,000 in prize money on offer.
Ingratiating
Among the many races run each year in Australia, the Everest is an event not to be snubbed. It is a 1200 metre weight for age contest with a first prize of $6.2 million and a hefty purse of $15 million. The race is a test of strength and determination and is contested by the country's top four-year-olds. In the five years since its inception, the Everest has been a major drawcard for punters, jockeys and owners alike. Its most recent edition was held on the second weekend of October in 2018. It will be held again in 2023.
The Everest is a slot race, meaning that each of the twelve horses in the field must pay a $500k deposit in advance to secure a coveted starting gate. To sweeten the deal, each slot holder will receive a free trip to the prestigious Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens during the carnival. The Everest is one of the most competitive races in Australia and will feature 12 of the country's best, with the richest prizemoney on the line for the winner. It will also be broadcast on free-to-air TV and will attract some of the biggest names in the business. It's no surprise that Godolphin Australia's supremo Vin Cox is all over the Everest, having ridden it to a victory in 2016.
The Everest is not a race that is going to happen in your backyard, but the event has managed to make its presence felt at the Sydney metropolitan area's premier race meetings, including the Australian Turf Club's Autumn carnival. With the announcement of a glitzy new prizemoney, fans of the race can expect more bang for their buck at the next edition of the event in a few years time.
Punters are also putting a lot of money on Eduardo and Lost and Running
Among the most intriguing Everest betting markets of the spring racing season are those surrounding star sprinters. The Everest is held at Randwick Racecourse and is billed as the world's richest turf race. With a prizepool of $15 million, it is a huge race. The race is run over 1200 metres.
The Everest is also a slot race. Slot holders pay a fee to take a place in the race. They can then partner with an owner who doesn't have a slot. This means that the race owner has the option to trade slots. The additional revenue will go towards funding the prizemoney pool.
This year, there are five slots available. The field will not be decided until the race morning at 7.30am. Assuming that all slot holders confirm their runners, the field will be named.
Slot holders are helping to fund The Everest by paying a fee to take a place in it. The slot holder will pay $600,000 in advance. The Everest race will be run on the same day as Caulfield Cup Day in Melbourne.
Among the slot holders are Buftto's First Kiss, who owns the nine-year-old. He finished fourth last time out. He is assessed at $9. It will be interesting to see if he can make up the ground that he lost in the last race.
Another thorn in the side of Nature Strip is Eduardo. He finished third to Nature Strip last time out and is expected to make a good impression this time around. He has been rated as a main threat to Nature Strip.
Another potential threat is Lost And Running. John O'Shea's sprinter finished second in the TJ Smith Stakes and was rated as a strong challenger for the Everest. However, he was scratched after being found lame in his off hind leg.
Barrier draw can make or break a horse's chances
Whether you are a casual punter or a seasoned pro, the barrier draw can often be a big deciding factor in big races. While the draw can't be measured in exact numbers, there is an obvious trend: horses with high draws have won 19 more races than their odds suggest. In fact, this is the case with the 2021 Everest.
A horse with a low draw has won 24 races less than his odds suggest. That's why punters should always take note of the barrier draw before making a wager. Typically, a barrier draw is conducted Tuesday morning, prior to the race. When the draw is done, the field is set. In the case of The Everest, all slot holders will be announced by 7:30am on the morning of the race.
This is a race that is dominated by the best sprinters in the country. Horses that have won Group 1 sprint races are in high demand in The Everest betting markets. This includes Classique Legend, who won the race last year from barrier 6.
Trainer Chris Waller has two previous victories in the race. The second of those victories came in 2021. The 2021 trifecta also featured Eduardo, who finished third. Eduardo needed a trial to blow off steam after a couple of disappointing runs.
Nature Strip has been a consistent performer in high stakes races. He has a genuine knack for handling soft or wet tracks. He has finished in the top four in the Everest two years in a row. He was also a solid third in last year's The Shorts.
There aren't many horses with a track record like Nature Strip's. He has only missed two places in 25 career starts.