"The Last 200 Metres Is Imperative" - Max Whitby On His Date With Destiny

Can Briasa Deliver Whitby’s Elusive Prize?

In the corporate boxes at Randwick, Max Whitby remains one of racing's most compelling figures. As one of the original twelve slot holders when the Gr.1 The TAB Everest was launched—Australia's richest turf race over 1,200m carrying a A$20 million purse—he stands amongst the last from that inaugural group still chasing the prize that has defined Racing NSW's bold vision.

For a man whose career spans everything from Managing Director of Propex Derivatives to owning Cox Plate winner Savabeel and building Mi Runners into a 5,000-strong racing syndicate, the world's richest turf sprint represents unfinished business—the one goal that has consistently evaded his grasp.

This October, that eight-year pursuit reaches a crucial juncture with Briasa, the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes winner who secured the slot shared by Whitby, Steve McCann, Colin Madden and Neil Werrett. Despite investing millions in slot fees alone and enduring the heartbreak of Vega Magic's second place and Masked Crusader's agonising runner-up finish, victory remains tantalisingly out of reach.

A Calculated And Refined Selection

Enter Briasa, the 4YO grey/bay gelding by Smart Missile out of Mary's Grace, who represents everything Whitby has learnt about Everest success over eight campaigns. The Hawkes Racing-trained gelding, based at Flemington, established his credentials as one of Australia's premier sprinters with a decisive victory in the Gr.1 TJ Smith Stakes over 1,200 metres at Randwick in April, where Tyler Schiller guided him to defeat Overpass in the most significant win of his career to date.

"This horse has explosive finishing speed, imperative for this race’s strategy," Whitby explains. "He can run on both surfaces and has explosive last 200 metres, which is imperative for a race like this."

What sets the TJ Smith Stakes winner apart is how he fits Whitby's evolved selection criteria. "This horse is sounder," Whitby observes. "I think he could probably move on to race at longer distances as well, which means he's a staying type, but he's got speed."

The selection reflects relationships built over decades with the Hawkes training operation, headed by John Hawkes and based at Flemington. "The Hawkes family is a household name in racing in Australia, if not the world," Whitby notes.

Whitby's strategic thinking was evident in its early commitment. "We started negotiations early, and I think we're the second horse selected this year. Briasa can win races from 1,000 metres to a mile, so he fits the brief perfectly."

The Speed Formula: Eight Years Of Evolution

Whitby's selection philosophy has been refined through hard-earned experience. "Speed. No more, no less," he states with characteristic directness. "Finishing pace is important. The last 200 metres are imperative. You win this race in the last 200 metres."

Behind this apparent simplicity lies careful analysis. "We have our Golden Slipper, which is probably one of the best sprint races in the world at 1200 metres. They go like a bang, they hit the gate, and they fly. The newly sanctioned Group One is a bigger race, so consequently, you need to position yourself better."

His criteria have remained consistent despite eight years of refinement. However, Whitby acknowledges the changing dynamics. "We always felt we had more control of the race as slot holders, but it's now turned to the owners of the horses. They seem to have the upper hand in racing terms."

This observation reveals the frustration of someone accustomed to controlling variables now facing sport's ultimate uncertainty in the 1,200-metre weight-for-age showdown.

The Hong Kong Challenge

Standing between Briasa and glory is Ka Ying Rising, the Hong Kong sensation who heads the early markets. Whitby's response combines patriotic pride with shrewd assessment.

"I'm very proud to be Australian and a very proud New South Welshman. Our race is in New South Wales, so come to our backyard and we'll see what happens."
This isn't mere sentiment but calculated thinking. "This horse has to travel and come down to what we call Randwick. He races in a certain jurisdiction with different racing conditions."

Despite attempting to secure Ka Ying Rising himself, Whitby maintains confidence in the four-year-old gelding. "They've got probably the fastest horse in our region. We think we can beat the horse. We tried to negotiate with Hong Kong, but that was a very hard set of negotiations."

The Psychological Battle

The cruel aspect of Whitby's Everest journey lies in how close he's come. In the inaugural running, the Whitby/Werrett slot finished second with Vega Magic, beaten by Redzel. Four years later, Masked Crusader was denied by Nature Strip in 2021 by the narrowest of margins.

These near misses have only sharpened Whitby's focus. "Well, as we say in racing, as I'm getting on in years, another tick's nice and another result's nice and the money's great. But winning is important. Doing it with your mates is important."

The pressure mounts as race day approaches. "I go into those meetings sometimes very nervous, sometimes very calm, and right now, about eight weeks out, I'm pretty calm. The pressure will come when the Hong Kong horse arrives and when the media starts banging away."

Partnerships And Succession

Whitby's alliance with Neil Werrett, the man behind Black Caviar's syndication success, demonstrates his approach to building relationships. "When the concept came up, I just had a powerful sense it was right. I got involved immediately," Whitby recalls. "Neil, my racing partner, famous for Black Caviar, said, 'Why aren't I in it?' I said, 'Well, you're welcome to be in it,' and it sort of grew from there."

The group's expansion to include Colin Madden and Stephen McCann followed naturally. "This is about racing with passion, racing with friends, racing with spirit."
Perhaps most intriguingly, Cool Archie represents Whitby's succession planning. The unbeaten two-year-old, named after his youngest grandson and a grandson of Savabeel through Cool Aza Beel, has won five straight races.

"Cool Archie is my horse, which I own 100%," Whitby announces. "He's won five straight races, and we hope he'll be the 2YO of the year in Australia. I think I may have my weapon next year, because this horse has won from 1,000 metres to 1,600 metres in all conditions."

The Ultimate Test

Whitby's diverse business career demonstrates how strategic thinking transforms opportunity into success. The same approach delivered Savabeel's Cox Plate victory and subsequent stallion success, whilst Mi Runners democratised racing ownership.

Yet the TAB Everest represents something different entirely. Where business rewards methodical analysis, the richest slot-based race embodies sport's beautiful unpredictability—the realm where favourites stumble, outsiders soar, and margins are measured in heartbeats rather than spreadsheets.

"The money is great. US$15 million is a big ticket, but it costs a lot to run your business, too. I run 80-90 horses and have 50 mares and yearlings in the paddock."
The real prize transcends financial reward—victory would validate years of strategic planning against sport's ultimate uncertainty.
"Winning would be outstanding," he reflects, "and it'd be another cherry on the little pie of life."

With the Spring Carnival's showpiece just weeks away and the son of Smart Missile primed for the test of his career, Max Whitby stands poised between triumph and heartbreak. In a sport where margins are measured in millimetres, the man who has succeeded across multiple fields faces his ultimate examination.
The white whale awaits. This time, Whitby believes he has the right weapon.