Why The Comfort Factor Is Keeping Old-Timers Home—And Why I’m Still Going

Without considering Hong Kong’s Ka Ying Rising, the World Champion sprinter, Saturday’s $20 million The Everest at Royal Randwick can prove the greatest to date based on the potential for the opposition.

Nature Strip was the best performed winner of the richest sprint in 2021 and while the gelding was downed in three other chapters those against him in any of his attempts did not have the anticipated substance of this year.

Again the Sydney program has blitzed the time honoured, corny but never more appropriate, Caulfield Cup which doesn’t compare with the major Randwick event or the King Charles 111 that enthuses me as much if not more.

Being at weight-for-age over 1600 metres the King Charles ring more bells personally, with Pride Of Jenni out in front and the outstanding Mr Brightside in attendance, both having to withstand the late finish of Fangirl. And it doesn’t end with them.

Yes, The Everest is a great promotion heading superb racing so why be concerned that I have not rated it as one of Australia’s greatest races. After all Stephen Howell described as a “curmudgeon” in “Story Of The Melbourne Cup” and that was back in 2010.

Still old-timers galore, regulars on the Wit’s Row and Table of Knowledge, are scratchings at Randwick on Saturday due to the comfort factor but I would not miss it.

To see Ka Ying Rising (KYR) and Zac Purton matched against Williams, J-Mac and Kerrin McEvoy, already etched into The Everest history with three winners and rivals ready, willing and able to overwhelm them is going to be an enthralling contest.

Local topliners Briasa and Joliestar may not have spiralled nor War Machine, with the Hayes of Euroa influence.

Lady Shenandoah, Angel Capitol, and the three-year-old Tempted, under the canny navigation of Craig Williams, all seek new heights.

Jimmystar, too, does not have to produce much better for his blistering finish to overwhelm them all.

Incidentally Melbourne mare Asfoora, currently campaigning in Europe, has scored twice in Group one company at York (United Kingdom) and Longchamps (France) but hardly compares with The Everest fancies. Asfoora was been beaten by Overpass, an $51 outsider in Saturday’s 1200 metre sprint.

I am gambling against KYR, not because his uninspiring recent Randwick barrier trial but I don’t tip or back imports I have not seen race. It’s become expensive.

Barrier trials are a training aid, not a publicity stunt, some trainers like Tulloch Lodge, in the main, like to go hard, Chris Waller is soft.

With Purton, one of the best aboard, KYR flew the lids in his Randwick heat, went fast with at times less than fluent stride, and covered ground. Only Purton knows the substance or otherwise of the trial.

Negative reactions abound about KYR but are matched by the beaming smile, for which the family is renowned, of his trainer David Hayes.

Still I am with Joliestar, who has the benefit of Waller’s superb timing for the target events even with champion hoop James McDonald off the boil. Get brilliant again J-Mac.

Waller has a habit of downing the first pick with a stablemate and the unharnessed ability of Lady Shenandoah could come into play while Angel Capitol, also with the Waller polish, was the victim of a nightmare defeat last start. Nine starts for five wins so what’s to come?

Barrier 10 has influenced me against Briasa, a five-year-old but still peaking under the preparation of the Hawkes family with father John the maestro. 

Apart from KYR (126) the highest rated in The Everest is Joliestar (117) while Mr Brightside tops the King Charles on 120. Mr Brightside has the benefit of Craig Williams, a master weight-for-age tactician, out to nullify the tearaway Princess Jenni, so good in the Feehan at Moonee Valley last start.

J-Mac on Fangirl will come late but I am going for Pericles on price grounds ($10). He should have finished closer, beaten a length and a half by Autumn Glow in the Epsom. Pericles blundered at the start and was inconvenienced at the 600 metres.

With a more comfortable transit Pericles can upset the favourites on a day where top horses and those that make them at Randwick promise to be long remembered.