Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 1

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

1. KA YING RISING

Last Start: April 26, Chairmans Sprint Prize (HK) (1st)

Hong Kong superstar & reigning Everest champ who will likely top this list right through to the running of the race. Dominant winning last year he went home & was unbeaten at 6 subsequent starts with 5 of those at Group 1 level, as with all his wins they were completely effortless & totally dominant. He’s won 21 of his 23 starts overall & holds the HK record of successive wins having now built that number to 20! He had his first trial at Sha Tin last Friday (21/8) resulting in a 9-length win, he’s expected to trial again this coming Sunday before officially kicking off his Everest defence in the Group 3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup on the September 6 which is opening day of the new season.

2. AUTUMN GLOW

Last Start: August 22, Winx Stakes (1st)

Will she or won’t she? That’s the million-dollar question that is yet to be answered following her impressive return last Saturday when cruising to her 12th win from 13 starts. The Everest or the King Charles 111 Stakes on the same day, one is over 1200m (Everest) the other 2000m. Should it be the Everest she’ll likely line up in the Sheraco (1200m) on September 12 or if it’s the KC then a trip to Melbourne for the Makybe Diva (1600m) is on the cards. Decisions, decisions… Watch this space!

3. JOLIESTAR

Last Start: June 20, Royal Ascot (UK) (3rd)

Super mare successful at the highest level on 5 occasions. She had 3 local runs last prep winning them all before being sent to Royal Ascot where she was far from disgraced clocking in a narrowly beaten third in a very tight QE II Jubilee Stakes finish. She’s had two previous attempts at this race beaten the same margin (1.6L) on each occasion, both very respectable efforts. She kicks off her campaign with a trial at Randwick on Friday (28/8).

4. TEMPTED

Last Start: April 11, Arrowfield Sprint (1st)

Now 4yo mare who chased home Ka Ying Rising in this race last year beaten just over a length in receipt of 7.5kg from the Hong Kong champ. Now a proven form line as she joins him having remained undefeated since having won all 3 starts during the autumn which included her Group 1 breakthrough in the Surround Stakes. The weight gap between her & Ka Ying Rising this time around will be slashed to 2kg under the weight-for-age scale which certainly makes her task a tougher one, on the flipside she’s only just finished her 3yo season & has no doubt improved over the break & with likely more to come. She’s trialled twice this month with the latest a close-up second in a strong heat (18/8).

5. JIMMYSSTAR

Last Start: May 30, Kingsford Smith Cup (2nd)

3-time Group 1 winner who is the owner of a big finishing burst. His pattern is to get back in his races & often needs luck getting through the field or tempo to suit, pretty much the tale of woe for every backmarker! Connections rolled the dice last year in this race pushing forward, unfortunately he couldn’t get in ending up parked wide throughout, honest as ever he toughed it out right to the line to hold down third spot. Personally I have a theory he would be best suited going into this race first up nice & fresh to tackle the 1200m which is a trip short of his best. Having said that Ciaron Maher has trained a few more winners than I have so best I leave that call with him! With a couple of close-up trials under the belt he resumes at Caulfield on Saturday in the 1400m Group 1 Memsie Stakes.

6. HEADWALL

Last Start: September 6 2025, Concorde Stakes (1st)

Fast approaching a year since we’ve seen this very exciting galloper on the track having had last year’s Everest campaign cut short by injury. He was well in calculations having come off the Concorde win first up which followed a prior prep when close-up in some of the best sprint races we have. He’s had a couple of lead-up trials, the first was a real eye catcher running on well under a very strong hold, the second he chased the runaway leader/winner home without threat, again he was given an easy time of it. He can’t be far away from returning.

7. GIGA KICK

Last Start: April 18, All Aged Stakes (10th)

3-time Group 1 winner who won this race in his 3yo season & followed it up with a narrow second 12 months later nosed out by Bella Nipotina. A very versatile galloper he has won on all types of going however if you twisted my arm I’d say a little give in the ground is what he’s best suited to. Consistent in the autumn he looked like running straight past Joliestar in the T. J. however the mare kicked on too strongly & perhaps he peaked on his finish also. Only recent trial was a close-up third in a star-studded heat at Caulfield recently behind the very highly rated Yellow Jersey.

8. NINJA

Last Start: August 8, Missile Stakes (1st)

Missile Stakes winner first up who should have plenty of improvement to come. Trainer Michael Freedman did say he had thoughts of taking on Autumn Glow & co in the Winx Stakes last Saturday however that failed to eventuate & he’s not nominated for any races or trials in the next few days at least. Personally I feel he has quite a way to go to be competitive in an Everest however once we get away from the top hopes things do get quite open so at the moment he’s in the top 10.

9. MISSION CENTRAL

Last Start: August 21, Nunthorpe Stakes (UK) (16th)

Now I have no idea if this UK based sprinter is coming or not, he remains well enough in the futures markets though so clearly no decision has been fully made as yet. He beat Overpass & co in the G1 King Charles 111 at Royal Ascot back in June before a couple of unplaced efforts. Owners Coolmore have an Everest slot which they may use for him although having said that they are not short on options! Hopefully more will be known soon.

10. LADY SHENANDOAH

Last Start: August 22, Winx Stakes (4th)

A little disappointing when resuming last Saturday however we know she’s better than that. Hard to gauge her trial efforts as she was given soft times in both looking like she had plenty to offer down the straight however not extended. Perhaps she’s not going as well as previous preps? Her next run could be a bit of a D-Day … Doubt she remains in the rankings should it be a below par one.

Odds correct at the time of publication.

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