Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 2

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

Previous week’s ranking in brackets.

1. KA YING RISING (1)

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 recently (21/8) resulting in a 9-length win, he trialled again last Sunday trotting home by 2-lengths. He officially kicks off his Everest defence in the Group 3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup this coming Sunday which is opening day of the new season. Bring it on!

2. JOLIESTAR (3)

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

Super mare who’s been 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 were very respectable efforts. Under no urgings whatsoever she clocked in 5th at Randwick in a trial last Friday (28/8) beaten 2.4 lengths. No news at this stage as to her next trial date.

3. TEMPTED (4)

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 trialled twice last month with the latest a close-up second in a strong heat (18/8) & is in the nominations for this week’s Group 2 Concorde Stakes at Randwick.

4. GUEST HOUSE (-)

Last Start: August 29, San Domenico Stakes (1st)

Reigning Golden Slipper winner who burst into Everest discussions when smashing the Slipper curse landing the San Domenico first up at Rosehill last Saturday. Most expected him to be in need of the run drifting slightly in the market however that was news to him with Zac Lloyd squeezing him through along the inside rail to finish full of running. He’s the first Golden Slipper winner to score as an older male since 2012 & the first to land the Slipper/San Domenico double since 1991. Post race connections suggested the Golden Rose is his likely next major target with a lead-up run in the Run To The Rose before a possible crack at the Everest.

5. HEADWALL (6)

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. Great to see him in the nominations for Saturday’s Group 2 Concorde Stakes at Randwick where he’ll be looking to make it back-to-back wins in the race.

6. JIMMYSSTAR (5)

Last Start: August 29, Memsie Stakes (9th)

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. He disappointed on face value first up in the Memsie on Saturday, perhaps the way the race unfolded worked against him? I’ll give him another chance however I’m starting to feel he’s not quite the same Jimmy we know & love.

7. BEIWACHT (-)

Last Start: August 29 Memsie Stakes (1st)

Made it three 1400m Group 1 victories with his demolition job in the Memsie. Straight to the front he just ran his rivals into the ground & never at any stage looked like being run down. Interestingly there are no 1400m Group 1 races at weight for age until later in the carnival, will connections consider easing him up & having a crack at the Everest, not his pet distance however there’s not a lot else around & he certainly wouldn’t be out of his depth. Owned by Godolphin they do hold a slot however Tempted is favoured to take that, any other slot holders interested? I’d say so…

8. GIGA KICK (7)

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. Following a trial & jump-out (placed both) he’s ready to go & has been nominated for the Group 1 Moir Stakes at Sandown on Saturday.

9. NINJA (8)

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 this stage he’s in the top 10.

10. LADY SHENANDOAH

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

A little disappointing when resuming in the Winx Stakes 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? She’s nominated to run in the 1400m Group 2 Tramway at Randwick on Saturday in a race which will certainly decide if she stays in the top 10.

CHANGES

IN – GUEST HOUSE

BEIWACHT

OUT – AUTUMN GLOW (confirmed non-starter)

MISSION CENTRAL (is he coming?)

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