As the richest race in Australia, the $15 million The Everest is a lure for the sport’s rich and powerful, but it is also proving to be within the grasp of everyday Australians.
While the likes of Coolmore, Godolphin and champion trainer Chris Waller all have a stake in the lucrative sprint, the powerhouses find their representatives pitted against three relatively cheap horses managed by syndication companies.
Triple Crown will start $180,000 yearling purchase Mazu, Darby Racing has Overpass, a $75,000 buy, and Proven Thoroughbreds run Private Eye, who cost just $62,500 as a youngster.
All are raced by groups of ordinary, mum and dad owners and Triple Crown director Chris Ward says having three syndicated horses in the 12-strong Everest field shows how egalitarian racing can be.
“They certainly prove that anyone can get involved in racing and compete against the likes of Godolphin and Coolmore and all those giants of the industry,” Ward said.
“And not only compete against them, but actually beat them as well.
“It’s a great feather in the cap for all the syndicators.”
When The Everest was first introduced, many thought it might be another playground for the rich to get richer, but Triple Crown knocked that on the head from the outset, contesting the first three editions of the race with Redzel and winning it twice.
“That was a dream just to have a runner in that first race,” Ward said.
“To sit back now and think that we’re about to have our fourth runner in six years in The Everest and be shooting for our third win, it’s pretty amazing.”
Comparisons have been made between Redzel and Mazu, and not only because both were trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and syndicated by Triple Crown.
The pair showed promise as young horses but didn’t realise their true potential until they were gelded, and Redzel’s Everest templates have been used to mould Mazu’s preparations for the feature sprint.
“They’ve had similar careers in some respects where they’ve shown a lot of ability early on in their careers and just not quite converted, and then ultimately they were gelded,” Ward said.
“Their progression from there has been very similar, all the way through to them (both) winning the Doomben 10,000 before the first Everest campaign, albeit Mazu is doing it 12 months ahead of what Redzel was.
“We think the future is big for Mazu and whatever he does this year is a bonus, but we’re sure he’s going to be very competitive.”
Mazu has drawn barrier 11, immediately inside favourite Nature Strip, who Ward says is clearly the horse they all have to beat.
Outside the defending Everest champion, the race is more open and should Nature Strip not be on his game, Ward reckons Mazu has a fighting chance.
“Everything has been perfect in the lead up and progressed beautifully,” he said.
“The stable couldn’t be happier with his work, the way he has been building through his preparation and even his coat, everything is coming together for grand final day on Saturday.”