Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 6

Posted on | Posted by Chris Nelson

Previous week’s ranking in brackets

1. KA YING RISING (1)

Last Start: September 6, HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup (HK) (1st)

How are they going to beat him! Hong Kong superstar & reigning Everest champ who will remain well clear at the top of these rankings right up until race day & that’s an absolute given! His return to the track at Sha Tin recently was simply outstanding taking almost a full second off his 1200m track record clocking an unbelievable 1.06.11. He arrived in Sydney on Monday (21/9) & is now in quarantine at Canterbury accompanied by his retired half-brother Ka Ying Glory, by all reports he travelled well losing only 5kg. The eyes of the racing world will be firmly focussed on his October 6 barrier trial at Randwick. From there it’s on to the big one!

2. TEMPTED (2)

Last Start: September 5, Concorde Stakes (1st)

Now 4yo mare who chased home Ka Ying Rising in this race last year beaten just over a length when in receipt of 7.5kg from the Hong Kong champ. Now a proven form line as she joins him having remained undefeated in the autumn winning all 3 starts which included her Group 1 breakthrough in the Surround Stakes. Well, that sequence is now 4 following her first up win in the Concorde showing a neat ‘turn of foot’ clocking a 10.2 second split between the 400-200m before being given an easy time over the final 100m. Keep in mind the weight gap between her & Ka Ying Rising this time around will be slashed to 2kg under the weight-for-age scale which certainly makes her task a tougher one however to the eye she’s improved over the break (so has Ka Ying Rising) …! Sent around in a Rosehill trial 22/9 she lost no admirers closing late ground into a cruisy fourth. All set to go around in the Premiere at Randwick this coming Saturday then it’s straight on to the Everest a fortnight later.

3. JOLIESTAR (3)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (2nd)

Super mare who’s been successful at the highest level on 5 occasions. She had three local runs last prep winning them all before being sent to Royal Ascot where she was far from disgraced clocking in a narrowly beaten third in a very tight QE II Jubilee Stakes finish. She’s had two previous attempts at this race beaten the same margin (1.6L) on each occasion, both were very respectable efforts. With a couple of trials under her belt she resumed in The Shorts which was expected to be a great Everest guide with her & other highly rated hopefuls going around however the race panned out a sprint home with $19 shot Mazu prevailing. She sat 3 deep without cover throughout & kept finding the line showing all her customary fight to grab a late second. Freshened up she’s returned to Chris Waller’s stables with a third Everest tilt on the cards.

4. JIMMYSSTAR (6)

Last Start: September 27, Manikato Stakes (1st)

3-time Group 1 winner who is the owner of a big finishing burst. His pattern is to get back in his races & often needs luck getting through the field or tempo to suit, pretty much the tale of woe for every backmarker! Connections rolled the dice last year in this race pushing forward, unfortunately he couldn’t get in ending up parked wide throughout, honest as ever he toughed it out right to the line to hold down third spot. He disappointed on face value first up in the Memsie, the jury was out, had we seen the best of him? With the blinkers going on for the first time he answered that question in no uncertain terms on Sunday mowing down his opposition to land the Manikato at Caulfield smashing the sectional clock running a sub 22 second final 400m, the only horse in the race to accomplish that feat. He’s back big time & will be nice & fresh for the big one with 3 weeks between starts.

5. GUEST HOUSE (4)

Last Start: September 26, Golden Rose (6th)

Reigning Golden Slipper winner who burst into Everest discussions when smashing the Slipper curse landing the San Domenico first up at Rosehill recently. Most expected him to be in need of the run drifting slightly in the market however that was news to him with Zac Lloyd squeezing through along the inside rail to finish full of running. He’s the first Golden Slipper winner to score as an older male since 2012 & the first to land the Slipper/San Domenico double since 1991. Sent out a short-priced favourite in last Saturday’s Golden Rose he found himself in a very awkward spot against the fence, in a nutshell things just didn’t pan out. The effort was forgivable & with 3 weeks before The Everest he’ll head off for a brief freshen up.

6. HEADWALL (5)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (5th)

After a 12-month injury enforced break, he returned in the race he won last year, the Concorde Stakes. Back worse than midfield at the top of the straight he had eventual winner Tempted to his outside, whilst that mare went wider with her finish, he was sent looking for gaps & weaved through successfully before running into traffic near the 200m. Whilst he was treading a little water, she was really letting down with a big dash & raced to a clear lead. Loved the way he picked up the pieces though & dashed home late. His effort in The Shorts second-up was inconclusive as his task was basically impossible trying to make ground against the race tempo. To the eye he peaked near the 100m however was only one of two runners in the race to break 22 seconds their final 400m. His spot in the race has been assured & he’s amongst the nominations for Saturday’s Premiere Stakes at Randwick.

7. NINJA (8)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (9th)

Missile Stakes winner first up who should have plenty of improvement to come. Very tidy fourth in a star-studded Rosehill trial (8/9) finding the line well under no urgings from jockey Tommy Berry, he looks to have enjoyed his time away from the stable since that impressive first up win. Very well fancied in The Shorts next start he too was a victim of the lack of tempo which handed the race to Mazu who led throughout. Add to that, he sat well back & 4 deep throughout suggesting we completely forgive the run. He’s in the nominations for Saturday’s Premiere Stakes at Randwick.

8. ANGEL CAPITAL (9)

Last Start: September 19, Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1st)

Very much maligned galloper who hasn’t done punters any favours in recent seasons. Whilst I don’t think he can win an Everest he’s amongst friends here with Ka Ying Rising basically ticking every single box. On his day he could figure in a placing & his win at Caulfield might be a confidence booster. I’d be more confident of him filling a placing had we been looking at 1400m however freshened up he’s not without some chance. Looks almost certain to land the Yulong slot in the big one, we won’t see him race prior.

9. OVERPASS (-)

Last Start: April 4, T. J. Smith Stakes (4th)

Newcomer to the rankings who has plenty of Everest experience having already gone around in the big race on 3 occasions. Best finishing effort to date was last year when beaten 1.5 lengths clocking in 4th. He gave the HK champ Ka Ying Rising plenty to run down still in front & looking a huge chance 200m out. He’s had two trials to get him ready, the latest of those was a on Tuesday (29/9) when proving too speedy at Hawkesbury.

10. MAZU (-)

Last Start: September 19, The Shorts (1st)

In all honesty he’s not likely to win The Everest however with Ka Ying Rising in the race he’s not alone in that respect. However, he did beat many of these in The Shorts & is always capable of pulling out a big run particularly should the track become rain affected. He’s had three previous Everest attempts placing at the first of those back in 2022. One for the exotics players closer to race day should the forecast turn ugly. Nominated to run in the Premiere at Randwick on Saturday with many other Everest hopefuls.

CHANGES

IN – OVERPASS & MAZU

OUT – BEIWACHT & BEADMAN




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