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| Staff Writer |
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Airman caused a major upset in the Gr.2 US$1 million Premiere Stakes at Royal Randwick, leaving connections of The Everest favourites scratching their heads just two weeks before the US$20 million showpiece.
The Michael Hawkes-trained gelding, expertly guided by rising star apprentice Zac Lloyd, threaded through along the rails to pip Mazu by a head, with iron mare Bella Nipotina a further head back in third. Last year's Everest hero Think About It and 2022 winner Giga Kick could only manage sixth and fourth respectively in a result that has thrown the Everest picture into disarray.
The Premiere Stakes has proven a key pointer to The Everest, with Think About It achieving the double last year. Previous Everest victors Classique Legend (2020) and Redzel (2018) also contested this race en route to their big-race successes, finishing second and fifth respectively.
The Hawkes team, who had earlier struck with Swiftfalcon in the Listed Dulcify Stakes, are now hoping their improving sprinter might have done enough to warrant inclusion in the elite field for The Everest.
Michael Hawkes said: "Why not? We've got no problems in talking to anybody. Look what he's just beaten, he's up there with them. He's proven he can do it."
Lloyd, who had earlier partnered Lady Shenandoah to Group One success in the Flight Stakes, echoed his trainer's sentiments: "Most definitely, you've got horses like Think About It, Bella Nipotina, Giga Kick over six furlongs and he's beaten them at set weights. So, you'd be silly not to think he would be competitive for sure."
The slow early tempo resulted in a relatively pedestrian final time of 1:09.73, leading to some hard-luck stories from the beaten brigade. Craig Williams, aboard Bella Nipotina, was upbeat despite defeat: "She was fantastic in defeat today. I love the way she is going. She stepped slowly, was ridden back off speed, and hit the line really hard."
Clayton Douglas, trainer of Giga Kick, hinted at the possibility of adding blinkers for The Everest, while Think About It's handler Joe Pride described the race as a "train wreck" after his charge was compromised by the sedate early gallop.
Should Airman miss out on an Everest berth, connections will redirect him to the Gr.3 US$2 million Sydney Stakes over the same course and distance on Everest day.