Champion stallion Snitzel has been the dominant force in the brief history of the $15 million The TAB Everest with his outstanding sprinting son Redzel claiming the first two editions of the richest race on the Australian turf.
The Arrowfield Stud resident has won the last four General Sires’ Premierships and would have done so even without the sizeable contributions from Redzel’s Everest heroics.
Snitzel is currently in third spot in his quest for a fifth championship, but with no Everest contender on Saturday his challengers can shake up the race for the title at this early stage.
Premiership leader Written Tycoon, who already has six stakes winners on the board and a Group 1 double courtesy of Guineas winners Ole Kirk and Odeum, is also without representation but several of his peers are close enough to knock him off top spot with success at Randwick.
With a winning stake of $6.2 million on offer, I Am Invincible would jump to a clear lead if his in-form daughter Libertini earned top honours.
The Anthony Cummings-trained mare burst into calculations with a sizzling last-start victory in the G2 Premiere S. and moved into $9 in the pre-post market.
All Too Hard and Not A Single Doubt will be represented by Behemoth and Classique Legend respectively and success for either would also see them atop the stallion premiership come Saturday evening.
All Too Hard is represented by Behemoth
Top elite level form
David Jolly’s Behemoth, also a $9 chance, in superb touch with consecutive Group 1 victories in the Memsie S. and Sir Rupert Clarke S. while Classique Legend, an unlucky sixth 12 months ago, is at $5 following his runner-up finish behind Libertini at his most recent appearance.
Such are the financial rewards of the race that Zoustar, Ocean Park (NZ), Exceed And Excel and Nicconi – all outside of the top 10 on progeny earnings – would also forge to the top of the table with Haut Brion Her, Tofane (NZ), Bivouac and Nature Strip flying their flags.
The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip is the $4.40 favourite while the others are all at double-figure odds.
The outcome of The Everest may cause only a temporary shake-up to the General Sires’ Premiership, but it does serve to emphasise its impact. Last year’s winner Yes Yes Yes propelled his sire Rubick to 10th spot in the premiership and the best result of his short career, taking out the Second Season Sire Premiership.
The growing stature of the race saw Yes Yes Yes take his place on the Coolmore roster, retiring without a Group 1 victory on his CV but as an Everest winner assured of exceptional breeder support.
Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) is the only colt in Saturday’s line-up and as the dual Group 1 winner of the Golden Rose S. and Newmarket, his future place on the Darley roster is already well assured. Everest success would undoubtedly make him an even more attractive stallion prospect.
Bivouac is the only colt competing in Saturday's The TAB Everest
Group 1 poser
The Everest immediately secured its position of global sprinting stature in year one, becoming the highest-rated sprint race in the world.
It therefore also raises the question about the black-type value of The Everest on the Australian racing calendar and its future claims to be awarded Group 1 status.
Arrowfield Stud principal John Messara sees justification and recently offered his thoughts on the subject in a TDN AusNZ opinion piece.
“The Everest has been an almost instant success in terms of attracting audiences, industry backing and the best horses, and does not appear to have had a negative impact on the major weight-for-age Group 1 sprint races, notably the VRC Sprint Classic (run three weeks later) and the TJ Smith S., (part of The Championships in April),” he said.
“In my view, a good argument can be made for including The Everest in the Pattern because, although the method of field selection is not traditional, the slotholders can in theory choose any horse, but are, of course, motivated by their substantial investment to select the best horses they possibly can.
“The proof is in the pudding: since inception The Everest has rated at Group 1 level.
“I applaud advances in Australia which help to make horse racing more attractive and competitive in the 21st century marketplace, such as the introduction of The Championships and the establishment of The Everest.
“However, it is important for the sport that these and other initiatives find a means of meshing with the Pattern rather than disrupting it; there is too much at stake for participants in doing otherwise. Respecting the Pattern is crucial to achieve international consistency and relevance.”
