Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 5

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

Previous week’s ranking in brackets

1. KA YING RISING (1)

Last Start: September 6, HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (HK) (1st)

How are they going to beat him! Hong Kong superstar & reigning Everest champ who will remain well clear at the top of these rankings right up until race day & that’s an absolute given! His return to the track at Sha Tin recently was simply outstanding taking almost a full second off his 1200m track record clocking an unbelievable 1.06.11. He arrived in Sydney on Monday (21/9) & is now in quarantine at Canterbury accompanied by his retired half-brother Ka Ying Glory, by all reports he travelled well losing only 5kg. The eyes of the racing world will be firmly focussed on his October 6 barrier trial at Randwick. From there it’s on to the big one!

2. TEMPTED (2)

Last Start: September 5, Concorde Stakes (1st)

Now 4yo mare who chased home Ka Ying Rising in this race last year beaten just over a length when in receipt of 7.5kg from the Hong Kong champ. Now a proven form line as she joins him having remained undefeated in the autumn winning all 3 starts which included her Group 1 breakthrough in the Surround Stakes. Well, that sequence is now 4 following her first up win in the Concorde showing a neat ‘turn of foot’ clocking a 10.2 second split between the 400-200m before being given an easy time over the final 100m. Keep in mind 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 however to the eye she’s improved over the break (so has Ka Ying Rising) …! Sent around in a Rosehill trial on Tuesday (22/9) she lost no admirers closing late ground into a cruisy fourth under no urgings whatsoever. She’s set to race next in The Premiere at Randwick on October 3 then it’s straight on to the Everest.

3. JOLIESTAR (3)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (2nd)

Super mare who’s been successful at the highest level on 5 occasions. She had three 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. With a couple of trials under her belt she resumed last Saturday in The Shorts which was expected to be a great Everest guide with her & other highly rated hopefuls going around however the race panned out a sprint home with $19 shot Mazu prevailing. She sat 3 deep without cover throughout & just kept on finding the line showing all her customary fight to grab a late second. Will she follow the same path as last year & not race again before the Everest with just a top up trial in between? No word at this stage.

4. GUEST HOUSE (5)

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 recently. 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. He’s all dressed up & ready to go on Saturday in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill, drawn gate 5 of 13 with Zac Lloyd up he’s a very firm favourite in early markets. Should he run up to expectations expect to then see him line up in the big one.

5. HEADWALL (4)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (5th)

After a 12-month injury enforced break, he returned in the race he won last year, the Concorde Stakes. Back worse than midfield at the top of the straight he had eventual winner Tempted to his outside, whilst that mare went wider with her finish, he was sent looking for gaps & weaved through successfully before running into traffic near the 200m. Whilst he was treading a little water, she was really letting down with a big dash & raced to a clear lead. Loved the way he picked up the pieces though & dashed home late. His effort in The Shorts on Saturday was inconclusive as his task was basically impossible trying to make ground against the tempo. To the eye he peaked near the 100m however was only one of two runners in the race to break 22 seconds their final 400m. His spot in the race has been assured with the conformation of a slot on Tuesday (22/9). Gut feel is he’ll go in without another run however that’s not confirmed.

6. JIMMYSSTAR (6)

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 recently, perhaps the way the race unfolded worked against him? He jumped out at Cranbourne (14/9) producing that big finish we know to get over the leader late. His next start will be at Caulfield this coming Sunday (27/9) in the 1200m Manikato Stakes.

7. BEIWACHT (7)

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… Nominated for the Manikato Stakes on Sunday (27/9) plus the rich Golden Eagle a month later.

8. NINJA (8)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (9th)

Missile Stakes winner first up who should have plenty of improvement to come. Very tidy fourth in a star-studded Rosehill trial (8/9) finding the line well under no urgings from jockey Tommy Berry, he looks to have enjoyed his time away from the stable since that impressive first up win. Very well fancied in The Shorts last Saturday he too was a victim of the lack of tempo which handed the race to Mazu who led throughout. Add to that, he sat well back & 4 deep throughout suggesting we completely forgive the run.

9. ANGEL CAPITAL (-)

Last Start: September 19, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1st)

Very much maligned galloper who hasn’t done punters any favours in recent seasons. Whilst I don’t think he can win an Everest he’s amongst friends here with Ka Ying Rising basically ticking every single box we have. On his day he could figure in a placing & Saturdays win at Caulfield might be a confidence booster. I’d be more confident of him filling a placing had we been looking at 1400m however freshened up he’s not without some chance.

10. BEADMAN (10)

Last Start: September 5, Concorde Stakes (3rd)

I’ve promoted him into the top 10 off his first up strong finishing effort in the Concorde first up behind Tempted & Headwall. Whilst he may not be up to many of these class wise this year’s race likely doesn’t have a long tail & that effort suggested he could be competitive. In a race where they ran some cracking sectional splits his overall time from the 800m to the finish line was quicker than those quinella horses mentioned above & he should take good improvement from the run. Nominated for the Manikato Stakes at Caulfield on Sunday (27/9) & the Golden Eagle in late October.

CHANGES

IN – ANGEL CAPITAL

OUT – LADY SHENANDOAH




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