The Everest Power Rankings: Week 4 Posted on September 15, 2020September 15, 2020 | Posted by Paul Joice 1. Gytrash Previous Ranking: 1st Last Start: September 5, Concorde Stakes (1st) Commands his position at the top of the ladder. Didn’t just knock off Nature Strip in the Concorde Stakes, he made him look second rate. The clock matched what the eyes were telling us – he scorched around Randwick. The only box left to tick was handling the Sydney way of going – no more queries on that front. So with the scoreboard Vs Nature Strip now reading an emphatic 2 – 0, here is my number one. 2. Nature Strip Previous Ranking: 3rd Last Start: September 5, Concorde Stakes (2nd) Has edged one spot closer during the past week despite not having raced. Had his flag lowered at Randwick when given a decent towelling by Gytrash. But is always vulnerable first-up and looked a touch soft in the enclosure. Chris Waller will have his six-year-old peaking on Grand Final day and he’s still the reigning favourite for the big dance on October 17. Has lost his aura of invincibility but has the potential to bounce back into the number one spot. 3. Rothfire Previous Ranking: 6th Last Start: September 12, Run To The Rose (1st) The big mover in the Power Rankings this week and for good reason. Tackled a red-hot line-up in Saturday’s Run to the Rose (1200m) at Rosehill and came away with a victory and a race record. Robert Heathcote had his star three-year-old ready to rumble and the Queenslander certainly stamped himself as the number one ranked three-year-old sprinter in the country. Charges into the number three spot and is breathing down the neck of the top two. 4. Classique Legend Previous Ranking: 4th Last Start: June 6, June Stakes (1st) It appeared the flashy grey gelding would venture to Hong Kong after his luckless sixth in the 2019 Everest. But a change of heart will see the Les Bridge-trained galloper back to make amends. The ability to settle close to the action combined with a stunning turn of acceleration makes this five-year-old a genuine winning chance. Has looked the goods at the trials and set to resume at Randwick on Saturday in The Shorts (1100m). 5. Bivouac Previous Ranking: 5th Last Start: April 18, All Aged Stakes (5th) Godolphin have their own slot this year and this four-year-old son of Exceed And Excel looks their number one candidate. When he’s on song, he’s something special. The Newmarket win down the Flemington straight was spine-tingling and that’s what he will bring to The Everest. An excitement machine capable of matching it with the best. Looked sharp winning a Randwick trial in slick time on Tuesday morning. 6. Anders Previous Ranking: 6th Last Start: August 29, San Domenico Stakes (1st) Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have made it clear they now have The Everest firmly on their radar with this three-year-old son of Not A Single Doubt. A speed machine, his electric display over 1100-metres at Rosehill in winning the San Domenico Stakes will certainly earn the attention of slot holders. Especially considering he’s now done it on wet and dry ground. Punters will be looking closely at any developments with Anders gaining a slot. Nature Strip might just have some competition on pace. 7. Farnan Previous Ranking: 2nd Last Start: September 12, Run To The Rose (5th) A week can be a short time when it comes to Power Rankings and Farnan slid sharply down the list after a controversial return to racing at Rosehill in the Run to the Rose. Showed blistering speed but folded up quickly in the straight, that just won’t cut it in The Everest. I will be forgiving in that he looked a half run short in the parade ring and Hugh Bowman said after the race that if he had his time again he wouldn’t have pressed the button in crossing and leading Rothfire. The only way to stop the slide will be to bounce back next start. 8. North Pacific Previous Ranking: 9th Last Start: September 12, Run To The Rose (3rd) A cracking type by Brazen Beau and fits the criteria that slot holders will be looking for – a three-year-old on the up. Team Hawkes are planning an assault on the Golden Rose and that form-line produced the winner of last year’s Everest through runner-up Yes Yes Yes. Gave his fellow three-year-olds a thumping in the Up & Coming Stakes then chased right to the line when third behind Rothfire on Saturday. Rothfire is challenging for top spot so this fellow surely remains in the mix. 9. Haut Brion Her Previous Ranking: Unranked Last Start: September 12, Sheraco Stakes (1st) The first of three newcomers into the Power Rankings. Produced an enormous first-up performance to win the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. Split similar times to Farnan on speed, absorbed that pressure yet still kicked clear to score first-up for 11 months. Trained by Chris Waller which would give slot holders some added confidence and her racing style appears ideal for this year’s Everest. Could trail stablemate Nature Strip and be poised to strike at the business end. 10. Trekking Previous Ranking: Unranked Last Start: June 6, Stradbroke Handicap (6th) With a few of the new kids on the block failing to take that next step, I’ve gone back to a tried and true sprinter. Ran third in The Everest last year and subsequently knocked over Gytrash in the Group 1 Goodwood. Overlooked due to potentially being the Godolphin second seed, but a big run in Saturday’s The Shorts (1100m) and slot holders may just approach the Blue Army to cut a deal. From Godolphin’s point of view – why not? 11. Santa Ana Lane Previous Ranking: Unranked Last Start: May 16, The Goodwood (6th) Has crept into the Power Rankings and has the potential to wreak havoc on some of the young guns. There were concerns we had seen the last of the Freedman-trained eight-year-old, runner-up in last year’s Everest – but he’s back! Blessed with a devastating turn of foot, he is always a genuine winning hope in any race he contests. A frantically-run Everest might just set up for a horse with a booming finish. Trials Friday and set to resume at Flemington on October 3 – so he’ll be a late pick-up if he is to get picked. 12. Catalyst Previous Ranking: 12th Last Start: February 29, Australian Guineas (6th) The big hope for the Kiwis and has been ticking over well since arriving in Sydney. His ding-dong battle with Alligator Blood in the CS Hayes Stakes at Flemington during the autumn was a classic. It stamped the now four-year-old as a potential star. A flop in the Australian Guineas was disappointing, but the ability is there and he looked sharp winning a trial back home. The trainer has made his intentions clear – he wants a crack at The Everest. Now he just needs a slot holder to come up with the right deal. Set to resume in The Shorts (1100m) on Saturday. Dropping Out: Fasika, Tofane, Alligator Blood Market Market
Harry Buchanan’s Saturday Greyhound Best Bets April 20, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 2 No. 3 Zinc and No. 6 Coco Shimmer The 3 is boxed to go close here. Good effort last week and just needs… Read More
Scott Embry’s Sunday Pinjarra Preview April 19, 2024 RACE 1 MANZOR MAGIC was backed into favourite on Good Friday (how?) in a 54+ against the older horses. He got within 4L late of… Read More
Weekend Tipsters April 19, 2024 Mornington Saturday Warren Huntly Quaddie 3 14 – 4 5 8 2 – 5 10 3 2 – 4 8 2 10 Best Bet 7-3… Read More
Warren Huntly’s Saturday Mornington Preview April 19, 2024 Race 1 Good race to kick off and expecting a more positive ride aboard PERSPIRATION, who went back and was left with too much to… Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Friday Greyhound Best Bets April 19, 2024 MANDURAH Race 1 No. 7 Trendy Miss Forgive last week and while the box doesn’t help again, this is much easier and the price will… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Eagle Farm Preview April 18, 2024 RACE 1 Interesting race to kick off the day at Eagle Farm with a number of the better fancied runners returning from breaks. Clearly the… Read More
Chris Nelson’s Saturday Randwick Preview April 18, 2024 RACE 1 Another big day of Group 1 racing at Randwick kicks off with a 1400m Midway which as per all the Midways looks very… Read More
Trent Cooper’s Gloucester Park Preview April 18, 2024 Race 1 LOUCID DREAMS (5) has been placed in two of his last three starts and looks the one to beat here with the drop… Read More
Scott Embry’s Saturday Ascot Preview April 18, 2024 RACE 1 MACK MACK is having his second start for young trainer Tom Wolfe and his first-up run was far better than it reads. He… Read More
Scott Embry’s Friday Albany Preview April 18, 2024 RACE 1 SPEEDY NOVA very importantly gets back to 1000m. Just feel at this stage of her career she might be a one trick pony… Read More
Digby Beacham’s AFL Preview: Round 6 April 18, 2024 THURSDAY St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium, 5.30pm The Western Bulldogs have lived in the spotlight this week following an insipid loss to Essendon…. Read More
Harry Buchanan’s Thursday Greyhound Best Bets April 18, 2024 CANNINGTON Race 1 No. 8 Chipping Away and No. 4 Run A Tick Steady Novice class race to kick things off. Small specs on these… Read More