Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 6

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

1. GIGA KICK
Last Week: 3
Current Odds: $7.50

Long odds Everest winner back in 2022 his campaign for this race last year was abruptly halted due to injury. He tore a muscle between his hamstring and hip which took longer to heal than expected resulting in him also missing this year’s autumn features. With two trials under his belt he resumed in the Concorde at Randwick finishing out of the placings, his effort was far from disappointing though as he raced wide throughout, was off the long break yet was good through the line. He trialled at Canterbury last week & could not have been any more impressive running over the top of the leaders from near last on the home turn. He looks to have come on leaps & bounds which has swayed me to promote him to the top of the rankings, gut feel is he’ll improve plenty more before the big one. Expect to see a much fitter horse come the Premiere on Saturday at Randwick.

2. BELLA NIPOTINA
Last Week: 2
Current Odds: $7

Iron mare who is now an official Everest slot holder being snapped up by the TAB. First up at Randwick she produced an outstanding finish to go down narrowly behind her stablemate I Am Me. On a day of slick times her closing split was the second fastest of the entire day, amazingly she broke 32 seconds for her final 600m over a trip which is short of her best. There were thoughts of running her in The Shorts just over a week back however connections have decided to send her around in the Premiere this Saturday at Randwick where she will face off against other highly rated Everest contenders Giga Kick & Think About It.

3. I WISH I WIN
Last Week: 1
Current Odds: $5

Drops from the number 1 ranking back to 3 this week which might seem a little harsh, to be honest there is very little between many of these as we close in on the big race which is just over 2 weeks away. Although he did nothing wrong on Friday night closing from the back of the field I base my opinion on his & the winner Southport Tycoon’s final 200m from the top of the Moonee Valley straight. I Wish I Win was clear & winding up; Southport Tycoon wasn’t fully clear at that same stage yet ran a quicker final split & had the race been further I couldn’t see I Wish I Win running over the top of him. The likely Everest speed map is a little concerning for him as well with no great tempo likely, he’ll be midfield or worse depending on his draw.

4. SUNSHINE IN PARIS
Last Week: 4
Current Odds: $12

Lightly raced mare who was well in contention for last year’s race before suffering a minor foreleg injury which put an end to her entire spring campaign. She’d beaten Espiona first up, had been assured of a slot & looked a great chance before bad luck struck. She was then narrowly beaten first up last prep in the Galaxy before striking consecutive heavy tracks which are not her go. She resumed in the Sheraco recently at Rosehill & couldn’t have been any more impressive charging to victory on dry ground. She lowered Joliestar’s colours which is no mean feat considering what that mare had done 3 weeks prior. We’re highly unlikely to see her again until Everest day however she may step out in a trial prior to keep her ticking over. Big chance on a dry deck!

5. PRIVATE EYE
Last Week: 5
Current Odds: $16

Placed at both Everest attempts to date he looks right on track for another strong performance in the race. His return in the Concorde at Randwick closing wide from the back was similar to his second up run in the Shorts just over a week ago when drawn poorly Jay Ford had no option than to go back, taken wide cornering he clocked the quickest final split of the race which was a remarkable effort. Make no mistake, Joe Pride has him going better than ever, will we see him again before the Everest? Well, he’s not nominated to run anywhere this week so the answer has to be no.

6. TRAFFIC WARDEN
Last Week: 10
Current Odds: $12

Accounted for Storm Boy in The Run To The Rose first up in impressive fashion which has thrusted him into Everest calculations. He’s a very versatile 3yo who led all the way in the Sires at Flemington, he then parked on speed almost winning the Sydney version before being runover by Manaal late. That fast-finishing fresh run & similar efforts in the Golden Slipper & Blue Diamond suggest he’s no one trick pony. Cracking run in the Group 1 Golden Rose last Saturday going down very narrowly behind his 3-time Group 1 winning stablemate Broadsiding who could end up being the horse of the spring. Whilst trainer James Cummings is very keen to get him into The Everest he wants his colt on song for the Group 1 Coolmore down the Flemington straight on Derby Day. Nothing locked in for The Everest at this stage.

7. JOLIESTAR
Last Week: 6
Current Odds: $9

Very interesting runner who is now a slot holder being snapped up by her trainer to run under the Chris Waller Racing banner. I had her on top of the rankings originally however she fell sharply down the order when no match at all for Sunshine in Paris in the Sheraco which followed a dominant first up victory. She just didn’t have that same turn of foot giving the impression she’s looking for further which is no surprise as she is a Group 1 winner over a mile. Did I jump ship too soon? Can Chris Waller freshen her up to tackle the 1200m again, this time in an Everest? Clearly it would be a task however I’d put nothing past the champion trainer.

8. STEFI MAGNETICA
Last Week: 8
Current Odds: $14

Group 1 Stradbroke winner in the winter at Eagle Farm accounting for Bella Nipotina in a stirring finish & keep in mind last year’s Everest winner Think About It also came through a win in Queensland’s premier race. Nobody missed her return effort at Randwick flying home along the fence to just miss catching I Am Me in the 1100m Shorts, with a clearer run earlier in the straight the race would have been hers. She won’t have a start between that unlucky effort & The Everest with trainer Bjorn Baker electing to have her fresh with just a trial in between to keep her ticking over.

9. GROWING EMPIRE
Last Week: 12
Current Odds: $7

Effortless winner first up at Caulfield recently. Fair to say he didn’t beat any stars & has a fair way to go as an Everest chance however he’s only a lightly raced 3yo with a ton of upside & is in the right yard to improve plenty in a short space of time. He sat 3 & 4 deep before being eased into clear running on the turn & once in the straight showed a ‘turn of foot’ to put his rivals away in no time before being abruptly eased down to win with a lot more in the tank. Second up in the mud at Flemington he raced up on speed, beat off his on paced rivals however First Settler than emerged & looked like running right on by, not on my watch said Growing Empire as he found another gear racing clear to the line. Faced his acid test at The Valley on Friday night & you would have put plenty on him halfway down the straight before Southport Tycoon emerged & got over him late. He’ll be better for that & can race handy which could be a vital asset come the big race.

10. THINK ABOUT IT
Last Week 7
Current Odds: $15

I’ve left last year’s winner in the mix however he was disappointing in the autumn/winter; he didn’t have a lot go his way first up (dragged back) however his next 3 starts all resulted in unplaced performances. He’s clearly up to the task & Joe Pride is a master trainer who will be doing all he can to get him back on track. He’s had the two lead up trials stepping out firstly at Randwick running a close 3rd under a very tight grip in a hot field including the likes of Stefi Magnetica & Fangirl. Last week he clocked in a close-up 2nd at Canterbury being run over late under little pressure (neither was the winner Corniche). Time was slower than that of Giga Kick at the same session. Returns in the Premiere on Saturday then it’s straight on to The Everest following the same winning path as last year. Jury’s out.

11. SOUTHPORT TYCOON
Last Week: Unranked
Current Odds: $16

Shock winner of the Manikato at The Valley on Friday night storming over the top of Growing Empire from what looked an impossible position. At this stage nobody seems to quote know where this horse is heading, The Everest is clearly an option however no deals have been done at this stage, there’s also talk of the Golden Eagle, Hong Kong’s big day in early December or Japan in mid-November, the latter seems the most unlikely. He’s clearly very versatile having won the Group 1 Australian Guineas over a mile & now the Manikato. Cannot be underestimated particularly from this stable.

12. STORM BOY
Last Week: 11
Current Odds: $14

Back in winning form at Rosehill first up making a big statement, he’s grown into a beast of an animal & he simply monstered the opposition. Second-up although beaten in the Run To The Rose there were valid excuses as he did miss the start & was then sent forward. By the same token once he got there the race wasn’t run at any great speed & the winner Traffic Warden ran home right over the top of him. Solid effort in the Golden Rose on Saturday over 1400m he’s been confirmed as an Everest slot holder this morning & with a lack of genuine speed likely in the race that’s no surprise. Freshened up dropping back to 1200m he may take running down, particularly with the intestinal fortitude runners from this stable are capable of producing.

Dropping out – Hayasugi

Coming in – Southport Tycoon

Odds correct at the time of publication.

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