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| Staff Writer |
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The Sydney racing scene is buzzing with anticipation as the US$59 million Everest Carnival kicks off at Royal Randwick this Saturday. The spring spectacular, running from 21 September to 9 November, is set to showcase 29 Group and Listed features across nine race days at Royal Randwick and Rosehill Gardens.
Our Kobison, trained by Angela Davies, is creating a buzz following a slick race day exhibition gallop at Rosehill last Saturday. Jockey Dylan Gibbons, who partnered the 5YO gelding in the workout, is brimming with confidence.
"He felt terrific. He was in a great mindset, his manners were great, he relaxed beautifully and just lobbed along," Gibbons said. "If I sent him a message and asked him to break another track record, he felt like he would have."
Our Kobison has built an impressive record, winning six of his 11 starts and placing in another four. His most recent outing saw him finish runner-up to the explosive Joliestar in the Show County Quality over 1200m. Davies, who prepares her small string from Gosford, has had to overcome some logistical challenges in getting Our Kobison race-ready. "We haven't got a track at Gosford [due to renovation], so it's been difficult to train him for these Group races," Davies explained. "I elected to come down to Rosehill. It's an hour and fifteen [minutes] both ways, so he's had a nice day out."
While Saturday's card is capturing much of the attention, last year's The Everest winner Think About It is conspicuously absent. Trainer Joe Pride is sticking to his guns with a deliberate strategy for the gelding's title defence. "There's 12 Everest spots and if this horse runs up to his best in the Premiere, I mean how is he not in the 12 best sprinters?" Pride said. "I've been really happy with Think About It and I'm pretty relaxed about it (preparation)."
Think About It, who reeled off nine consecutive wins last year, hasn't tasted victory since his Everest triumph. However, Pride was encouraged by the 6YO’S recent barrier trial performance, where he finished a close third to Mazu and Stefi Magnetica. "It was great just seeing him trial so well," Pride enthused. "There was a bit of a nervous wait for the trial knowing that there was a lot on the line. With a lot of horses, when they trial you can see what they're in for any given preparation by the way they trial and it was just lovely to see him jump out, not pull, just be relaxed in the run and he was really 'trucking' to the line."
Headlining Saturday's card is the Gr.2 US$675,000 Yarraman Park Shorts, a crucial stepping stone to the world's richest race on turf, the US$13.5 million TAB Everest. The 1100m sprint has attracted a stellar field, with several runners vying for a coveted slot in the big race on 19 October.
This year's renewal sees Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, trained by the formidable duo of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, taking on the likes of Private Eye from the Joe Pride stable and the in-form I Am Me, prepared by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The Shorts has been a reliable form guide for The Everest, with six of the past seven winners going on to compete in the big race. Notably, Redzel (2017) and Classique Legend (2020) achieved The Shorts-Everest double, cementing the race's significance in the sprinting calendar.
The Gr.2 US$202,500 Darley Tea Rose Stakes is shaping up to be an equally intriguing contest. The 1400m event for three-year-old fillies sees the clash of rising star Autumn Glow with Ameena and Manaal, winners of the first two legs of the Darley Princess series. Trained by Chris Waller, Autumn Glow has been heavily backed following her meteoric rise through the grades. She'll face stiff competition from Michael Freedman's Manaal, who is looking to go back-to-back in the series.
The US$675,000 7 + Sport Stakes rounds out the trio of feature races, with Waller's Fangirl opening as favourite ahead of stablemate Zougotcha. The Waterhouse and Bott-trained Royal Patronage is also among the market leaders in what promises to be a keenly contested affair.
As the carnival unfolds, all eyes will be on the sprinting ranks, with connections jostling for The Everest slots and horses aiming to stamp their authority on the Australian racing scene. With US$59 million in prize money up for grabs over the coming weeks, the Sydney Everest Carnival is set to deliver world-class racing action and unforgettable moments on the track.