Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 1

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

1. GIGA KICK
Last Start: May 13, Doomben 10,000 (1st)
Odds: $3.60

At this early stage I don’t feel there’s a great deal between the number 1 & 2 seeds who are clearly the two best sprinters in the country. Of course they met in the T. J. Smith earlier this year with only a half-length separating the pair on the line, gut feel is the heavy track that day was more to I Wish I Win’s liking. Nice little jump out at Cranbourne on Monday sitting off speed for this one before cruising through to win late suggests he’s ticking over nicely.

2. I WISH I WIN
Last Start: April 1, T. J. Smith Stakes (1st)
Odds: $4.60

Two jump outs under his belt at this early stage winning the latest over 1000m at Pakenham 7 days ago. Interestingly the plan with him is to tackle the 1400m Memsie first up on the 2nd of September before going into straight into the Everest 7 weeks later. Can’t see that being an issue as he’s run some outstanding races when fresh & nobody knows him better than his trainer Peter Moody.

3. SHINZO
Last Start: March 18, Golden Slipper Stakes (1st)
Odds: $13

Golden Slipper winner at only start number four he’s got a ton of upside. At this stage he’s aiming at the Group 1 Golden Rose via a first up appearance in the Run To The Rose early in September. 3yo’s have won 2 of the 6 running’s of the Everest which isn’t surprising given the big weight advantage over the older horses. Loved his recent trial win cruising past Zaaki late.

4. THINK ABOUT IT
Last Start: June 10, Stradbroke Handicap (1st)
Odds: $7

New kid on the block with the outstanding strike rate of 9 wins from his 10 starts. He’s gone from a Benchmark 88 victory to winning consecutive Group 1’s in Brisbane during the winter & all of this within the space of only 5 starts! Without doubt he has to now step up it a cog or two to match it with the best sprinters in the land. He’s got the right trainer to do just that in Joe Pride.

5. IMPERETRIZ
Last Start: March 24, William Reid Stakes (1st)
Odds: $12

New Zealand juggernaut Te Akau Racing have established a Victorian operation out of Cranbourne with this mare all set to be their first runner making her return to the track at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes early next month. A 4-time Group 1 winner across the ditch she ventured to our shores earlier this year for a gallant Canterbury Stakes 2nd before landing another Group 1 in the Manikato at The Valley. One trial (win) back home with another coming up shortly will have her ready to launch her Everest campaign.

6. NATURE STRIP
Last Start: April 1, T. J. Smith Stakes (4th)
Odds: $16

Should Chris Waller’s champ make it to the post this year it will be a fifth straight Everest having won the big one back in 2021. He looked like doing it all again last year when James McDonald dashed him away at the 300m mark however he’d worked too hard from a wide gate & was mown down inside the final 100m. He might be a 9yo now however should he draw a gate this year he just cannot be underestimated.

7.MAZU
Last Start: May 13, Doomben 10,000 (3rd)
Odds: $15

Just keeps turning up at the top level & performing well. He’s only a new season 4yo however it feels as though he’s been kicking around a lot longer than that. Whilst he hasn’t won since landing the 2022 Doomben 10,000 he’s been in the placings 5 of his 8 appearances since which include a 3rd in last year’s Everest when coming deep with Giga Kick although unable to match that one over the final 100m or so. Should we end up on a wet track come the big day his chances will improve greatly. It’s a definite case of ‘the wetter the better’.

8. PRIVATE EYE
Last Start: April 29, Victory Stakes (5th)
Odds: $16

Runner up in the big race behind Giga Kick last year he rarely puts in a sub-par effort & when he does there’s generally a valid reason for it. The bonus with him if you’re a futures punter is his ability to handle all types of ground, he’s won multiples times on all surfaces. Set to trial this coming Friday his return run is penned to be the Shorts in the middle of September.

9. UNCOMMON JAMES
Last Start: April 15, The Quokka (8th)
Odds: $26

One of a couple of sprinting hopefuls hailing from the Sunshine state hoping to gain a slot in the big race. He landed his sole Group 1 at Sandown in the Oakleigh Plate last summer before almost making it two straight at the highest level in the Galaxy three weeks later. Far from disgraced in The Quokka when sitting wide throughout off a poor draw he’s displayed an electric turn of foot when given the chance. He’ll make his return in the Group 1 Moir under lights at The Valley in late September.

10. OVERPASS
Last Start: May 13, Doomben 10,000 (2nd)
Odds: $14

Bjorn Baker trained galloper who had always shown glimpses of ability however he really went to another level last prep winning The Quokka at Ascot before beating all bar Giga Kick in the Doomben 10,000. Giga Kick looked like sailing straight past at various stages in the straight however it wasn’t until around 30m from the post his supporters were feeling completely at ease. Maybe it’s the tinkering with the gear, maybe the penny has dropped? Who knows, however what we do know is he’s developed a real bulldog persona.

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