The TAB Everest has made headlines both in Australia and Internationally. The world’s richest race on turf sees twelves of the very best sprinters compete for over $15 million in prize money.
Sydney’s Royal Randwick hosts the race day as one of Australia’s most prestigious racing venues. Runners for the Everest are allocated using a unique concept developed by Racing NSW, whereby 12 ‘slots’ are available for sale, which then allows the slot holder to negotiate with owners, pick their own horse and agree on a prize money split to then have that horse run in the race over 1200m.
Post time for the Everest is 1:15am ET with Nature Strip the 6-5 morning line favorite.
Wager $250 or more on the Royal Randwick card tonight and earn a FREE $25 wager.
Set across both Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens, The Everest Carnival will once again put Sydney on the world stage hosting a stellar eight weeks of world-class racing from September to November.
Sydney’s Royal Randwick hosts the world’s richest race on turf on Saturday, 15 October 2022. History will be made as twelve of the fastest horses compete for $15 million in prizemoney.
And two weeks later the world’s best four-year-old’s do battle in the third running of the $10m The Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, 29 October 2022.
Set across both Royal Randwick & Rosehill Gardens, the Everest Carnival will once again put Sydney on the world stage hosting a stellar eight weeks of world-class racing from September to November.
Download free past performances for Royal Randwick.
Connections See No Barriers as Nature Strip Defends Title
Any concerns about Nature Strip’s barrier draw are wide of the mark if you ask James McDonald and Chris Waller as the TAB Everest champion aims to defend his title at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Nature Strip drew the outside in the 12 horse field but both champion jockey and trainer are quick to highlight the gelding won the $15m sprint last year from gate 10 and the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes in the autumn from barrier 11.
The world’s best sprinter strode out comfortably under McDonald down the Rosehill straight on Thursday morning and attention turned quickly to whether that barrier could prevent back-to-back wins in the $15m TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
“I was quite pleased with it actually,’’ McDonald said.
“With Randwick the way it’s been playing, and being very wet, I don’t think the barrier is going to be too much of an issue for us. I’m yet to speak to Chris about it but from my point of view I think it’s okay.
“He just enjoys that sort of space. I think the gate has given me a little bit more (confidence) and I think he will do his thing.”
Waller is just as unperturbed by breaking from the outside alley and he went as far as to say it is an advantage.
He said when a horse like Nature Strip draws the inside, given he can be a touch slowly away, it can put him on the back foot and risks having to be pushed to hold a forward position.
An inside gate didn’t worry him when he won the Group 2 Shorts (1100m) a month ago on his return from his runaway Royal Ascot win but the Everest is a different challenge.
“Nature Strip likes to get into his own rhythm and while there is a little bit of extra ground to cover he can do it as he likes,’’ Waller said.
“When you draw on the outside you’ve got nothing to your outside, you’ve only got those to your inside and you can come across when you’re ready at the pace you want to.
