Preview Premier Stakes: The A$1 million Everest Dress Rehersal

1. Lost And Running: John O’Shea’s Lost And Running has Everest form having placed fourth in the 2021 Premiere Stakes and fourth in The Everest. Last year the seven-year-old Per Incanto gelding won the Premiere Stakes, but then missed a run in The Everest. His first run this campaign in the The Shorts did not go to plan with a wide run resulting in him fading from sixth at the 400m to finish 11th. On Saturday Jamie Kah rides with barrier one.
2. Think About It: Think About It, a 5YO by So You Think, resumes after his Group One double in Brisbane back in May and June taking the Kingsford-Smith Cup over 1300m and the Stradbroke Handicap over 1400m. Joe Pride’s Think About It is the opening favourite and has already secured his Everest slot. 
3. Mazu: Peter Snowden’s Mazu has already secured a slot in The Everest will be ridden by Tommy Berry, returning from suspension. The 5YO Maurice gelding, and the winner of the 2022 Group One Doomben 10,000, has form around The Everest. He was second to Lost And Running (NZ) in the Premiere Stakes last year before going forward to run third to Giga Kick and Private Eye in The Everest.

Third in both the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes and the 2023 renewal of the Doomben 10,000, he resumed with a ninth place in the Gr.2 The Shorts over 1100m. 

5. Athelric: Athelric also found his best form when he won the Listed Ortensia Stakes over 1,100m in May earlier this year. Athelric raced behind the leaders until the home turn before bursting to the lead and holding off the fast-finishing Quantico. Trained by James Cummings, the 4YO now has seven wins and four placings from 23 starts for earnings of US$853,730.
6. Hawaii Five Oh: Perfectly peaked and with great trials so far, he will give the leaders a lot to think about. 
7. Kote: Trained by Anthony Cummings, the Choisir 4yo won his last barrier trial but could be out of his depths here. 
8. Alcohol Free: Another colt trained by Adrian Bott, the former UK sprinter can secure the Everest slot held by her owners Yu Long Investments with a strong showing today. 
9. Bella Nipotina: Ciaron Maher’s popular mare has the right form and has been kept fresh since running a close up third in the Concorde Stakes. With a good finish her slot in the Everest is almost guaranteed. 

10. Zapateo: The 5YO gelding by Godolphin, was a class above the rest when he won his last start Gr.1 Sheraco Stakes over 1200 metres. Nothing to stop this wild card from proving his mettle today.