3 minute read
From its beginning, the Everest run at Randwick on Saturday has been a monumental success.
Could Redzel do something unbelievable by making it a three peat in the 2019 The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday?
2019 THE EVEREST - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
2017 saw the first edition of The Everest conducted by the Australian Turf Club at Randwick.
Run over 1200m at Weight For Age, The Everest became the richest prizemoney event in Australia.
Run in mid-October, it was worth $10million in a field comprised of horses who have been nominated by those who have purchased 'slots' in the 12 horse field.
That prizemoney was upped to $13million in 2018 and $14million in 2019.
Slot holders buy a spot in the field for $600,000 a year, for a three year commitment to the race.
Those positions are able to be traded, sold, available for joint venture or lease prior to entry date.
Wagering on The Everest, sponsorship, broadcasting and race day revenues along with the slot costs created the prize pool. There was a sensational crowd filling Randwick plus free to air and subscription TV exposure on the day.
Betting turnover on the Randwick and corresponding Caulfield program reached record recent day levels.
The 12 slots go to 12 elite sprinters. In 2017 all were trained in Australia. US Navy Flag became the first overseas entry in 2018. In the future it is expected more international horses will be attracted to run by slot-holders.
Those organisations/people who bought slots for the first three years include Aquis Farm, the Australian Turf Club, Coolmore, Damion Flower, GPI Racing (Greg Ingham), James Harron, Inglis, The Star Casino, TAB, Max Whitby, Chris Waller Racing and Yu Long Investments.
Due to legal matters Damion Flower was forced to relinquish his slot in 2019 and it went to global racing brand Godolphin.
At the same time, the ATC decided to share their slot in a joint arrangement with the Melbourne Racing Club. It was decided they would make the Schillaci Stakes run the week prior at Caulfield as a 'Win and You're In' race.
Earlier Bon Ho and Carmel Size Racing took over the GPI Racing slot in 2019.
The 2018 Everest was won by Redzel from Trapeze Artist and Osborne Bulls.
That meant the quinella from the TJ Smith the previous April would occur again but in the reverse order.
In winning the race Redzel would shoot to number two all-time prizemoney earner in Australian racing history behind only the champ Winx.
The rest of the 2018 field finished as Le Romain, Graff, Santa Ana Lane, In Her Time, Brave Smash, US Navy Flag, Viddora, Shoals and Vega Magic.
