Randwick around the track with Clinton Payne on Saturday

Clinton Payne - Saturday October 14

The punters around Australia say The Everest is a success with the race expected to break turnover records on a Sydney race.

Kerrin McEvoy returns to scale aboard Redzel after The Everest. Photo: Steve Hart

THE DOLLARS SAY THE EVEREST IS A WINNER

The early betting figures available point to The Everest striking a chord with punters across the nation.

Corporate bookies turnover figures were unavailable at the time of writing so we used the national tote pools to give us a guide on how the race engaged with racing’s lifeblood – the punters.

"The Everest has captured the imagination of the racing world like no other sporting event in Sydney,” Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys said.

"The Championships is now firmly established in the autumn and has been highly successful, but The Everest has gone to another level attracting world attention in a matter of months.”

NOTE: Tote turnover from Western Australia has not been used as they round up or down on their website.

THE EVEREST TOTE FIGURES

Tote

NSW

VIC (ACT)

QLD (SA, TAS, NT)

Win

$1,457,760

$636,439

$473,732

Place

$609,156

$284,249

$224,520

Quinella

$286,433

$132,560

$94,366

Exacta

$57,704

$40,205.40

$25,369

Trifecta

$991,715

$399,331

$627,048

First 4

$2,706,270

$390,836

$257,488

CAULFIELD GUINEAS TOTE FIGURES

Tote

NSW

VIC (ACT)

QLD (SA, TAS, NT)

Win

$370,195

$530,903

$203,402

Place

$156,714

$284,159

$100,707

Quinella

$18,138

$105,264

$41,272

Exacta

$70,707

$32,585

$13,465

Trifecta

$140,281

$302,827

$140,716

First 4

$76,331

$807,395

$280,422

TOTE COMPARISON

Race

The Everest

Caulfield Guineas

Win

$2,567,931

$1,104,500

Place

$1,117,925

$541,580

Quinella

$513,359

$164,674

Exacta

$123,278

$116,757

Trifecta

$2,018,094

$583,824

First 4

$3,354,594

$1,164,148

SYDNEY’S BIG FOUR RACES TOTE FIGURES

Race

The Everest

Golden Slipper

Doncaster Mile

TJ Smith Stakes

Win

$2,567,931

$1,890,600

$1,677,986

$1,292,576

Place

$1,117,925

$860,815

$799,663

$578,164

Quinella

$513,359

$394,283

$338,192

$248,431

Exacta

$123,278

$114,202

$95,025

$69,125

Trifecta

$2,018,094

$1,533,335

$1,256,614

$722,101

First 4

$3,354,594

$1,644,563

$590,329

$351,544

WOULD SHE HAVE WON?

Plenty thought the Ben Smith-trained In Her Time had done enough to secure a start in The Everest when winning the Group II Premiere Stakes a fortnight ago but she was overlooked by slot holders that remained uncommitted.

On Saturday, the four-year-old mare proved too good for her opposition again when taking out the $500,000 Sydney Stakes over the 1200m trip, the same distance The Everest was run over.

Let’s compare the times - In Her Time ran the 1200m in 1.08.26 (last 600m in 34.22 seconds) compared with Redzel’s winning time in The Everest of 1.08.36 (last 600m in 34.46 seconds).

I’D GIVE A DAMN

While on comparing times, the amazing response to the inaugural $200,000 Anniversary Highway (1400m) arguably cost Country New South Wales’s best horse Don’t Give A Damn victory in the feature race.

A whopping 42 entries were received for the race before Racing NSW acted quickly, adding an additional race – $100,000 Highway Consolation (1400m) to Saturday’s card.

The highest rated runners made up the field of 14 for the Anniversary Highway but the lightly-raced Don’t Give A Damn found himself in the Consolation where he led all of the way running a fast 1.21.86 (last 600m in 34.78 seconds).

The Anniversary Highway was won by After All That in 1.22.40 (last 600m in 35.09 seconds) around fourth lengths slower than Don’t Give A Damn’s time.

"He’ll go for a break now, we’ll target the (Country Championships) qualifier in the autumn then see what happens,” Don’t Give A Damn’s trainer Danny Williams said.

"I won’t even be frightened to nominate him for the Doncaster because I think he’ll be an even better horse at a mile to 2000 (metres).”

Next year I’d love to see the primary qualifying criteria for the Anniversary Highway to be horses that have previously won a Highway Handicap.

Ten of the 14 runners in the Anniversary Highway had never won a Highway Handicap but nine in the Consolation had.

‘I DON’T THINK IT’S A KEEPER’

Racing NSW chief stipe Marc Van Gestel was getting around with a flash The Everest pin on Saturday.

The pin, crafted by master jeweller Nic Cerrone was presented to each of the 12 slot owners on Thursday night at the glitzy Australian Turf Club Chairman’s The Everest Ball at Randwick.

So which slot owner gave his to Van Gestel?

"If I tell you I’ll have to kill you,” Van Gestel said. "I don’t think it’s a keeper.

"I won’t be rushing to give it back after the last but at some stage I’d say the owner will come calling.”

WHAT TOP SYDNEY TRAINER HELD A GREYHOUND LICENCE?

Champion trainer Peter Snowden once held a licence in the greyhound industry.

Not that Snowden was ever listed as a trainer of a greyhound, but he held an attendants licence, allowing him to box and catch greyhounds.

Snowden would ride work in the morning in Scone before helping his wife Lyn’s uncle to help out with a team of greyhounds.

"I’d go to the trials and races with him,” Snowden said. "I’d lead the dogs out and box them on raceday at places like Muswellbrook, Gunnedah, Tamworth and Cessnock.

"It was something different to what I was used to but he had a few handy dogs and it was good fun.”

So did Snowden ever consider taking out a training licence? "no,” he replied.

TWO TOP JOCKEYS RUBBED OUT

The Everest winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy and Corey Brown were stewards’ room casualties on Saturday.

Both jockeys were suspended for careless riding in the Highway Consolation.

Their good records saved them from missing the Cox Plate meeting, both incurring four meeting bans that will sideline them after next Saturday’s Caulfield Cup meeting.

They miss Friday week’s Manikato Stakes card before returning a day later to ride against Winx in the Cox Plate.

Advertisment
More Reading...
New Record Priced Colt Early at MM Perth
A new record price for a colt at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling was set early on Day One which was also a new record for a colt by his sire Playing God.
Sydney 2YO Wednesday - High Prices and 1st Season Sires
The two year-old race at Warwick Farm on Wednesday is an interesting, and seemingly open, one which sees the second highest priced Farnan yearling of 2024 entered, along with the third highest priced I Am Invincible along with several other first season sire debutants.
Breednet on Tour – All Things Cambridge Stud
When my daughter Jasmine was given the task of taking Konasana to New Zealand by her boss Chris Waller it was originally proposed as a likely 10 day trip, but when the Dundeel mare won the $500,000 Group II Westbury Stud Classic on Karaka Million night, plans changed and long story short, Jasmine is still there and will be until next month so I’ve grabbed the opportunity for a working holida
Riccarton 2YO Winner for Maurice
Progressive juvenile Best Rose turned the tables on her key rival at Riccarton Park on Wednesday, scoring an impressive second-up victory in The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2YO (1000m).
G1 Progeny Among Early Entries For Inglis Weanling Sales Series
Amongst the highlights of the 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series is sure to be the draft of Dorrington Farm-bred weanlings – which will be offered in conjunction with Noorilim Park – at the Australian Weanling Sale on May 5-6.
Bargain Hellbent Filly Heading For Black Type
Legendary trainer Les Bridge can make something special out of a horse and will likely tackle stakes grade with his up and coming bargain Hellbent filly Scintilla after making it three in a row on Wednesday.
Farnan Colt A Debut Winner - Slipper Crack Coming
High priced Farnan colt King Of Pop will be given his chance to get to the Golden Slipper after a debut win at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Entries Open For 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series
The 2025 Inglis Weanling Sales Series – the most lucrative weanling sales series in the Southern Hemisphere – is now open for entries.
Silver Slipper Looks Gold - 4 of Top 7 To Clash
The fields are out for Saturday’s Rosehill card and the Silver Slipper has produced a salivating line up where we’ll see the next run of boom Wootton Bassett colt Wodeton in a race which includes four of the top seven in the Golden Slipper market.
Star Turn's Beauty Destiny On Fire in HK
The penny has well and truly dropped for Star Turn’s Beauty Destiny, winning his fourth race in five starts at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.