Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 5

Posted on | Posted by Paul Joice

1. Masked Crusader ($7)
Previous Ranking: 1
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (5th)

Money lost, nothing lost. Confidence lost, everything lost. In the case of Masked Crusader you may have left your money in the bag after Saturday’s defeat in The Shorts (1100m), but from an Everest viewpoint – it was the run he had to have. Flopping out of the gates in an on-pace dominated affair and angling deepest into the straight set an impossible assignment for the Team Hawkes-trained five-year-old. But give him an extra 100m, a more aggressive ride and stage it on Grand Final day – my confidence is as high as ever.

2. Classique Legend ($7)
Previous Ranking: 2
Last Start: Dec 13, Hong Kong Sprint (11th)

The defending champ is back at headquarters under the watchful eye of master trainer Les Bridge. A failed stint in Hong Kong is now well behind the six-year-old grey gelding and his grand final this spring will be The Everest. Last year’s electrifying win is carved into the memory of punters and with a confirmed slot I’m confident he’ll be right amongst the thick of it again come October 16. Has looked ominous at the trials and Bridge is keeping his cards close to his chest as to when we’ll see the grey superstar.

3. Gytrash ($6)
Previous Ranking: 7
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (3rd)

The South Australian fairytale horse is on track for another tilt at The Everest and with a confirmed slot combined with an eye-catching third in The Shorts (1100m) – this time there might be a happily ever after. Was the only genuine hard luck story out of last year’s event but with a disappointing winter campaign there were questions around whether trainer Gordon Richards could get the six-year-old gelding back in peak form. That question was answered on Saturday so look out – the ‘G-Train’ is on the move.

4. Eduardo ($6)
Previous Ranking: 6
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (1st)

Since a gut-buster in last year’s Everest, Joe Pride’s eight-year-old gelding has won four from six – two of those at Group One level. In The Shorts (1100m) we saw a confident jockey combine with a super tough racehorse and the result was the perfect foil to Nature Strip’s dominance. Apply pressure and sustain it until one of them blinks. It appears unlikely Eduardo will blink and although his 1200m form could be placed under a microscope I think we all need to keep in mind one thing – he has never gone better.

5. Rothfire ($7.25)
Previous Ranking: 5
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (4th)

First-up for 12 months off an injury-enforced lay-off on an unsuitable soft surface stacked the odds well and truly against the Queensland sprint sensation. So to see Robert Heathcote’s four-year-old gelding loom at the 200m in Saturday’s The Shorts (1100m) before his condition peaked late was extremely encouraging. Off all horses which ran in The Shorts, everyone would agree on which one would derive the most improvement. This one.

6. Nature Strip ($5)
Previous Ranking: 3
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (2nd)

Will it be third time lucky for Chris Waller’s hulking chestnut? I have my doubts. Two previous attempts at The Everest have resulted in a fourth and a seventh – disappointing for a galloper currently holding onto favouritism. Sure he’s the fastest horse in the field and physically the strongest, but this isn’t a beauty pageant or a time-trial, it’s a horse race. And a high-pressure, eyeball-to-eyeball horse race at that. All rivals know how to beat Nature Strip. Apply pressure and he’ll find that last 100m tough.

7. Anamoe ($16)
Previous Ranking: 8
Last Start: September 11, Run to the Rose (1st)

Wide barriers proved costly for this James Cummings-trained colt in both the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper so is certainly capable in high-pressure contests. Impressive first-up win in the Run To The Rose (1200m) with plenty of improvement to come. Some queries over whether Cummings will stretch him out to the mile or keep him at the sprints. Either way, until we see him in the Golden Rose he must remain a genuine Everest contender.

8. Lost And Running ($12)
Previous Ranking: 4
Last Start: September 18, The Shorts (8th)

They say to forgive a good horse one bad run – well this is stretching that saying as far as it can be stretched. A big slide down the Power Rankings for John O’Shea’s five-year-old after a lacklustre last in The Shorts (1100m). Yes he was first-up with improvement to come and yes he was posted wide on a track favouring those near the fence, but excuses only carry so far – he was beaten 8.9 lengths! For a horse which carried all of the X-Factor into this year’s Everest, it was an ‘F’ was on his report card after what we saw first-up.

9. Stay Inside ($34)
Previous Ranking: 9
Last Start: Sep 11, Run to the Rose (5th)

The Golden Slipper winner hasn’t set the world on fire this campaign from two runs back, but he hasn’t been too far off the mark either. Ridden more aggressively second-up, his trademark acceleration wasn’t there, but it was still a tough effort off a wide gate carrying plenty of weight. The Richard and Michael Freedman stable are masters of getting horses to peak on grand final day and this colt still possesses everything required to be competitive in an Everest.

10. Paulele ($16)
Previous Ranking: 10
Last Start: Aug 28, San Domenico Stakes (2nd)

If recent form is good form then this is your Everest horse. Lumped 59kg first-up in the Rosebud and blew his rivals away. Surprisingly beaten as an odds-on favourite in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) but similarly to Stay Inside, the run itself was still exceptionally good so there is no reason to hit the panic button yet.

11. Libertini ($26)
Previous Ranking: 11
Last Start: April 10, TJ Smith Stakes (8th)

Started hard in the market at $6 in last year’s edition on the back of an awesome Premiere Stakes (1200m) victory when motoring right over the top of Classique Legend. Hasn’t been able to reproduce that rating figure at four subsequent starts but has shown glimpses of that ability with placings in the VRC Classic and William Reid. Hamstrung by the apparent need for dry ground but will be a sneaky chance if gets into the big one and gets conditions to suit.

12. Starman (GB) ($26)
Previous Ranking: 12
Last Start: August 8, Larc Prix Maurice De Gheest (3rd)
Will throw this international sprinter into the mix as a wildcard. Looks the best English hope with 5 wins from 7 starts including a stunning victory in the Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket when overcoming trouble before powering through the pack. Possesses a turn of foot which would make him dangerous in an Everest and if a slot holder really wants to gamble then this appears the right horse to roll the dice with.

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