The field for this year’s $20 million The Everest has been finalised after Yulong on Monday confirmed its runner for this Saturday’s 1200-metre event.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained mare Alcohol Free, who was bought by Yulong for more than $10 million last year, will run in the Yulong slot.
It ends speculation that star Kiwi mare Imperatriz would be recruited to run in what was the last slot to be filled and Yulong’s operations manager Sam Fairgray said it was great that one of their own would represent Yulong.
“We’re thrilled that Alcohol Free is running in the green and white in the upcoming Everest,” Fairgray said.
“She embodies the world-class performance that Mr Zhang has built the Yulong brand to represent.
“We are confident that she will offer an excellent opportunity for us in the race, upholding Yulong’s successful history in The Everest.”
Yulong tasted success in the world’s richest turf race when Redzel won the 2018 edition as Yulong’s representative.
Craig Williams, who won last year’s The Everest aboard Giga Kick, will ride Alcohol Free.
A four-time Group 1 winner in Europe, Alcohol Free is in her second campaign in Australia and resumed with a fourth placing, beaten 2-3/4 lengths, in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes at Randwick on September 30.
Waterhouse is thrilled that the daughter of No Nay Never joins Premiere Stakes runner-up Hawaii Five Oh as her representatives in the race.
“We are delighted that she has gained at start in the race, ridden by Craig Williams, who of course is already a winner of the race,” Waterhouse said.
“It was a good run in the Premiere Stakes, and she really needed that to take the edge off her freshness. I believe she is absolutely spot on now.
“Yulong have become a major player in the Australian breeding and racing scene, Adrian and myself are very excited that she can represent Yulong in their silks and in their slot.”
Alcohol Free is the outsider in most markets on The Everest with T J Smith Stakes winner I Wish I Win favourite from Premiere Stakes winner Think About It.