Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 6

Posted on | Posted by Paul Joice

1. Masked Crusader ($7.50)
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 his 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 ($4.80)
Previous Ranking: 2
Last Start: Dec 13, Hong Kong Sprint (11th)

An awesome trial win at Randwick on Friday confirmed what we were all hoping for – the grey flash is back! 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.

3. Gytrash ($10)
Previous Ranking: 3
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 has been answered so look out – the ‘G-Train’ is on the move.

4. Eduardo ($7.50)
Previous Ranking: 4
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 ($8.25)
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 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 ($4.60)
Previous Ranking: 6
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. Wild Ruler ($16)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Last Start: September 24, Moir Stakes (1st)

Win a G1 sprint at this time of year and a slot will become available. Peter and Paul Snowden’s talented four-year-old was too sharp taking out the Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley last Friday and it didn’t take long for a slot holder to jump onboard. Already a G2 winner at 1200m and managed to split Nature Strip and Trekking first-up this campaign in the Concorde Stakes. Would need a gun draw and all the favours to win The Everest but he is capable of running a big race.

8. Lost And Running ($13)
Previous Ranking: 8
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. Trekking ($26)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Last Start: September 24, Moir Stakes (3rd)

Godolphin have a few options with their slot but I am starting to think that one of their Everest stalwarts may get the nod ahead of some of the young guns. With two previous Everest attempts returning a 3rd behind Yes Yes Yes and a 4th last year behind Classique Legend, the now seven-year-old certainly pays his way. And his form this preparation looks up to the mark. A first-up 3rd behind Nature Strip and Wild Ruler in the Concorde Stakes (1100m) then unlucky not to win the Moir Stakes (1000m) last Friday when held-up for most of the straight. His credentials certainly read better than a few other confirmed starters.

10. The Inferno ($16)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Last Start: September 24, Moir Stakes (2nd)

The Everest will have some international flavour this year courtesy of this robust former champion Singaporean sprinter. Cliff Brown has set the Melbourne sprinting scene alight with this 9-time winner, a G2 victory in the McEwen (1000m) followed-up with a slashing runner-up performance behind Wild Ruler in the Moir Stakes (1000m). His off-pace racing style proving attractive in a race which is profiling to embody plenty of pace. Certainly adds plenty of interest.

11. Home Affairs ($13)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Last Start: September 25, Heritage Stakes (1st)

Chris Waller had this three-year-old screwed down first-up in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) and got the result with an aggressive all-the-way win. It will be a massive leap in grade to tackle an Everest field but there is still plenty of upside to this lightly raced Silver Slipper winner. A soft draw would help his cause and although the son of I Am Invincible doesn’t have a confirmed slot yet, he will be a tempting option for the Coolmore team.

12. Libertini ($16)
Previous Ranking: 11
Last Start: April 10, TJ Smith Stakes (8th)

Has a confirmed slot and started hard in the market ($6) in last year’s edition on the back of an awesome Premiere Stakes (1200m) victory when motoring 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 and pulled-up with a minor issue after a so-so recent barrier trial.

DROPPING OUT: Anamoe, Paulele, Starman, Stay Inside

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