$20 million The Everest without a confirmed runner five months out from the big race
Think About It won The Everest in 2023
Joe Pride, trainer of reigning The Everest champ Think About It and two-time placegetter Private Eye, isn't surprised the world's richest turf race still doesn't have a confirmed starter.
The $20 million The Everest is run at Royal Randwick on October 19 and it is unprecedented that by this time of the year not one slot-holder has secured their sprinter.
But this could change after Saturday when early The Everest favourites I Wish I Win and Private Eye clash in the Group 1 $1.5 million Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Pride also has Mazu entered for the Doomben 10,000 while the trainer has nominated Excelladus and King Of The Castle for the Listed $200,000 Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) at the Scone stand-alone meeting this weekend.
ðŸÂ†THE EVEREST
1200m - $20.000.000
ðŸ‡...🇺 Randwick
Think About It (AUS)
(5G So You Think (NZ) x Tiare by Flying Spur)
J : Sam Clipperton
T : Joseph Pride
O : Proven Thoroughbreds (Mgr: A Walter), B McDonald, R Miller..pic.twitter.com/oons5wpF9X
- ð™’ð™¤ð™§ð™¡ð™™ð™ÂÂð™–ð™˜ð™žð™£ð™œ (@WorldRacing1) October 14, 2023
The feature Scone sprint has also been used as a springboard to The Everest in recent years for Clearly Innocent (2017), Osborne Bulls (2018), Trekking (2019) and Lost And Running (2021).
Pride expects some Everest slot-holders could make their moves to select a sprinter after this weekend.
"I'm not really surprised there isn't a horse locked in for The Everest yet, the slot-holders still have plenty of time,'' Pride said.
"We see this every few years where there is a bit of a changing of the guard in the sprinting ranks.
"I'm confident both of my horses, Private Eye and Think About It, will be there again this year but I understand why slot-holders haven't picked them up yet.
"If Think About It goes to Queensland and does what I think he will do then I feel we will have a deal done pretty quickly for him.''
Private Eye, runner-up to Giga Kick in the 2022 The Everest before his third placing behind Think About It and I Wish I Win in the rich Randwick race last spring, has been winless in four starts this autumn but has twice been Group 1-placed in the Lightning Stakes (second behind Imperatriz) and All Aged Stakes (third to Magic Time).
Pride said the winning chances of Private Eye and last start Hall Mark Stakes winner Mazu hinge on the Doomben track rating on Saturday.
🟣 Bhima G1 Winner 🟣
The Kiwi Queen does it again 👑 Imperatriz (I Am Invincible x Berimbau) claims victory in the G1 Lightning S. @FlemingtonVRC under @opie_bosson for Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson - her NINTH G1!!
Huge congrats to @teakauracing & her breeders, @RafflesRacing ðŸÂ† pic.twitter.com/FTbyaLcWWA
- Bhima Thoroughbreds (@BhimaTBreds) February 17, 2024
"I'm happy with Private Eye, he's in really good form,'' Pride said.
"Mazu seems to be going well and if it is a wet track that will help him. He's met Private Eye a few times and generally he can beat him on a wet track but not on a dry track.''
In early TAB Fixed Odds betting for the Doomben 10,000, I Wish I Win is a dominant $2.25 favourite ahead of Private Eye and Godolphin mare In Secret at $6. Mazu is at $15.
Pride confirmed Think About It will join the stable's Brisbane winter carnival team and be aimed at the Kingsford-Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap.
Think About It hasn't been at his best in three starts this autumn but Pride has gone back to the gelding's strengths and freshened him for a sprinting program.
"I thought he trialled nicely the other day,'' Pride said of Think About It's second in a Warwick Farm barrier trial heat last week.
"He will trial again before going to Brisbane. I've got (new jockey) Blake Shinn coming up to ride the horse in a trial at Warwick Farm next week.''
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