Here we go again! Twelve of the best sprinters in Australia are lining up for a total prize money purse of $15 million in the world’s richest race on turf on Saturday, The Everest.

There will be no loafing and no where to hide over the Randwick 1200m course while the betting at Ladbtokes.com.au has been thrown wide open following the recent defeats of the early favourite Nature Strip.

The challengers have come from far and wide with the Adelaide speedster Gyrash and the Anthony Cummings trained Libertini both giving Nature Strip a towelling in the lead up to The Everest.

South Australia also have a strong chance with Behemoth who has won back to back Group 1s at Caulfield at his last two starts but he is yet to race the Sydney way of going.

Sydney’s leading trainer Chris Waller is chasing back to back wins in The Everest and as well as having Nature Strip ready to fire, the champion trainer will also saddle up the late inclusion Haut Brion Her.

James Cummings will have two runners with last year’s place-getter Trekking and 2019 Golden Rose winner Bivouac, and possibly three if first emergency Deprive gets a run, while Santa Ana Lane is looking to go one better after being runner up to Yes Yes Yes last year.

We have analysed the entire field and given our The Everest tips for the glamour sprint below!

Nature Strip

The Chris Waller trained Nature Strip was the early favourite for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au before his latest two defeats and has drifted out in the betting.

Nature Strip rounded off his 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign with a win in the Group 1 T J Smith Stakes over the same course and distance as The Everest but he has failed to find the winner’s stall at two runs this preparation at Randwick.

Nature Strip was run down by Gytrash when second in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) and then was a fading fourth behind Libertini in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Has to bounce back to his best to be a threat here.

Trekking

Trekking finished third to Yes Yes Yes in last year’s The Everest and he has had mixed form since but did manage to win the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville during this year’s Adelaide Autumn Carnival, beating Gytrash.

Trekking has had one run back from a spell for a second to Pippie in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley and he has very good second up form and he can figure amongst the major end of the prizemoney again.

Classique Legend

Classique Legend kicked off his The Everest campaign in explosive style with a win in the Group 2 The Shorts over 1100m at Randwick but then found Libertini too nippy when runner up in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick a fortnight ago.

He can mix his form up but has been consistent of late and is one of the main contenders.

Santa Ana Lane

Santa Ana Lane was runner up to Yes Yes Yes in last year’s The Everest but hasn’t found the winner’s stall since, with his best effort being runner up to Nature Strip in the 2020 Group 1 T J Smith Stakes over the same course and distance as The Everest.

Santa Ana Lane has had one run back from a spell for a sixth in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) at Flemington a fortnight ago,

The multiple Group 1 winner has handy second up form and races well over the Randwick 1200m course.

Behemoth

South Australian sprinter Behemoth has raced into The Everest calculations with back to back Group 1 wins over 1400m at Caulfield at his last two starts.

Behemoth proved too strong for his opposition in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes and then he repeated the dose in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes four weeks ago.

Has had a freshen up for the 1200m but is yet to be tested the Sydney way of going, but if he does and if they go very hard, he could be joining in over the final 50m.

Bivouac

The James Cummings trained Bivouac has had one run back from a spell for a first up third to Classique Legend in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.

Bivouac was in the Group 1 winner’s stall during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with his victory in the Newmarket Handicap over 1200m down the Flemington straight.

The four year old has win second up in the past but is yet to win over the Randwick 1200m course.

Gytrash

Adelaide sprinter Gytrash showed his class during the 2020 Melbourne Autumn Carnival with a win in the Group 1 Lightning over 1000m down the Flemington straight.

Gytrash was also third in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap over 1200m at Flemington and followed that with a second in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at the Valley.

Gytrash handled the Sydney way of going with ease when he beat The Everest favourite Nature Strip in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 5.

The Gordon Richards trained five year old has since won a 1030m Rosehill barrier trial and he is ready to run the race of his life.

Equardo

Equardo has handy Group 2 form with a win in the Missile Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill in August followed by a second in The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 19.

The Joe Pride trained seven year old has since won a 801m Warwick Farm barrier trial but might find some of the opposition a bit slick here.

Dollar For Dollar

Dollar For Dollar is racing in fine form but a win in The Everest would be a major upset.

Dollar For Dollar set the pace when runner up to Behemoth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield two starts back then was runner up again in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight.

Tofane

Tofane showed her class with a win in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes over 1400m at Randwick at the end of the 2020 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

The Melbourne mare has had two runs back from a spell over 1200m down the Flemington straight for a third in the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis followed by a fifth in the Group 2 Gilgai Stakes.

Much tougher here.

Libertini

Libertini shot up the market order for The Everest like a rocket following her dynamic first up win in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes over 1200m at Randwick.

The Anthony Cummings trained mare is a four times winner over The Everest course and distance and has winning second up form and a repeat performance will see her fighting out the finish again.

Haut Brion Her

Haut Brion Her was the last contender to fill a slot for The Everest and will start as one of the outsider of the field.

Haut Brion Her has had two runs back from a long break for a first up win in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill followed by a seventh in the Group 2 golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill three weeks ago.

Deprive

Deprive is fitter for one run back from a break for a third in the Group 2 Premiere Staks over 1200m at Randwick.

He is a three times winner over The Everest course and distance.

Special Reward

Special Reward looks way out of his class coming off a last start fifith in the Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle on September 18.

Tactical Advantage

Tactical Advantage was never a threat at  his second run back from a break for a fifth in a 1000m Warwick Farm Handicap.

Standout

Standout has failed to run a place from two runs this time in, his latest a fifth in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick two weeks ago.

The Everest Tip

1 Nature Strip at $4.40