Races

The Everest Power Rankings: Week 8

Posted on | Posted by Paul Joice

1. Masked Crusader (Barrier 9)
Previous Ranking: 1
Last Start: October 2, Premiere Stakes (1st)

The number one seed justified his position with a spectacular victory in the Premiere Stakes. A 1200-metre specialist, Masked Crusader now has 5 wins and a second from his six attempts at the distance. The tempo on Saturday should be fast and frantic, so if Tommy Berry can keep the five-year-old within striking distance I’m confident he’ll steam right over top of them.

2. Classique Legend (Barrier 5)
Previous Ranking: 2
Last Start: Dec 13, Hong Kong Sprint (11th)

What a training performance this will be by the master Les Bridge. An awesome trial win at Randwick on Friday confirmed what we were all hoping for – the grey flash is back and ready to rumble! A failed stint in Hong Kong is now well behind the six-year-old grey gelding and all eyes have been on the grand final. Last year’s electrifying win is carved into the memory of punters and I’m confident he’ll be right amongst the thick of it again on Saturday.

3. Gytrash (Barrier 1)
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 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 full steam ahead.

4. Eduardo (Barrier 7)
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. Nature Strip (Barrier 10)
Previous Ranking: 5
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 challenging for 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. He’ll be there for a long way but the final 100m will prove his toughest test.

6. Wild Ruler (Barrier 11)
Previous Ranking: 6
Last Start: September 24, Moir Stakes (1st)

Peter and Paul Snowden’s talented four-year-old was too sharp taking out the Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley 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. Capable of running a big race.

7. Lost And Running (Barrier 2)
Previous Ranking: 7
Last Start: October 2, Premiere Stakes (4th)

There was plenty of improvement by John O’Shea’s five-year-old from his first-up flop in The Shorts (1100m) to a brave 4th in the Premiere Stakes (1200m). It will be a piece of training brilliance to garner enough further improvement to win The Everest but perhaps that’s been the plan all along. I don’t think he’s seasoned enough to win it this year but he won’t be far away.

8. Trekking (Barrier 4)
Previous Ranking: 8
Last Start: September 24, Moir Stakes (3rd)

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) when held-up for most of the straight. His credentials certainly read better than a few others.

9. The Inferno (Barrier 12)
Previous Ranking: 9
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. Adds interest.

10. Home Affairs (Barrier 6)
Previous Ranking: 11
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.

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

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 will have to tackle the Everest first-up after an interrupted lead-up.

12. Embracer (Barrier 3)
Previous Ranking: Unranked
Last Start: October 2, Premiere Stakes (3rd)

A white-hot stable and a last start 3rd behind top seed Masked Crusader proved to be enough to earn the final golden ticket into the big dance. To be fair, he is unlikely to win the race, but his racing style and consistency certainly provides some insurance for the slot holder. I’ve got him at the bottom of the ladder, but if a few above him don’t bring their A-game, he’ll peg his way up the order and perhaps surprise a few.

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