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Everest Or Retirement For Group One Winner

3 minute read

Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer remains hopeful his star mare Spright can secure one of the remaining five slots in the $14 million Everest, at Randwick in October.

If not he concedes she may have run her last race.

Spright has returned to part-owner Greg White's property at Scone following her 11th to Invincibella – beaten only 2.25 lengths – in the G1 Tattersall's Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 22.

Spright winning the Star Kingdom Stakes
Spright winning the Star Kingdom Stakes Picture: Racing and Sports

"She had done well leading up to the Tiara but the race perhaps showed that she had come to the end of her campaign," Frazer said.

"There are still a few nibbles around for The Everest and naturally I'd love the opportunity to get her ready for a crack at that as I'm sure she would be very competitive.

"But if nothing eventuates then she will go to stud in the new season and be mated with Zoustar.

"If she has run her last race we can take pride in what she achieved and she has taken us on a great ride all around Australia."

Frazer has done an outstanding job with the rising six-year-old daughter of Hinchinbrook, who has raced 32 times for six wins and 10 placings and earned nearly $1.4 million.

He clinched the fourth G1 success of his training career when Spright overpowered her own sex in the TAB Classic (1200m) at Morphettville in May.

His earlier triumphs at racing's elite level were with Turridu (1995 Queensland Derby and George Main Stakes) and Quick Star (1999 Champagne Stakes).

Spright has won three times at G3 level in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and was placed twice in G1 company at Moonee Valley before her breakthrough success at Morphettville.

She subsequently ran third in the G1 Goodwood (1200m) on May 18 before finishing an unlucky fourth in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 8.

If Spright is retired, Frazer doubts he will ever get another horse of her calibre.

"You never know, but I only keep 12 horses in work and it's a numbers' game," he said.

"I don't have the clients who can spend big money buying yearlings."

Victorian trainer Anthony Freedman also hopes his Blue Diamond Stakes winner Lyre can also pick up a starting berth in the Everest.

Assistant trainer Sam Freedman said the stable feels Lyre could be an ideal Everest candidate with only 51kg under the weight conditions.

"I don't know where Godolphin are at with their thinking process but 1200m on what has been a rain-affected track at that time of year with no weight on her back, Lyre would be a live chance against the best sprinters in an Everest," Freedman said.

There are only five of the 12 Everest slots remaining including one held by Godolphin.

Lyre
Lyre  Picture: (Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

Racing and Sports

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