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| Staff Writer |
Racing first-up in the Gr.3 Concorde Stakes, Joe Pride’s warhorse Eduardo (Host) gave his Everest rivals a warning that comes Saturday, October 15, the 9yo will be ready to run the race of his life and look to improve from his narrow third-placed finish 12 months prior.
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Clearly the class runner of the Southern Cross Stakes field, Eduardo cleared out to score by over two and a half lengths, and while none of the other runners in the field are currently considered as Everest contenders, it was great to see the way the Nash Rawiller ridden gelding charged to the line to score.
"I kept thinking, 'how could this horse get beat?' I couldn't see how he could get beat - he's a different level,” stated Pride post-race.
"But doubt starts to creep in, you have all week to think about it. I just believe in this horse's ability, he is an amazing horse."
Rawiller was able to have Eduardo racing up outside leader Malkovich(Choisir) and the experienced jockey was confident he had the race won a long way from home.
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"I don't think he has travelled like that in a race for a long time," Rawiller said.
"He was fit and well and he wanted to show them who was boss. He's going as good as ever. He is due for things to fall into place in a big one, so maybe this is his year."
With three of the past five winners of the Concorde Stakes going on to win the Everest, connections would be confident of a forward showing in his main aim this preparation.
Likely to now meet Mazu, Nature Strip, Lost And Running, Classique Legend and Masked Crusader in the Gr.2 The Shorts on September 17 at Randwick in what will be a mini-Everest clash, the winner of that A$1m, 1100m sprint will likely go into the Everest as the favoured runner.
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