The $20 million The Everest shapes as another spectacular contest at Randwick this Saturday, with Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising returning to defend his crown after drawing barrier 11, which presents an interesting challenge for the world’s highest-rated racehorse.
Tempted looks a major threat from the inside gate after an outstanding run of form, while Jimmysstar, fresh off his Ladbrokes Manikato triumph, former winner Giga Kick, Joliestar and Ninja add serious depth to a star-studded field.
With the barrier draw adding another layer of intrigue to the world’s richest race on turf, all eyes will be on whether Ka Ying Rising can overcome the wide alley and cement his place among the all-time greats of sprinting.
With a soft or heavy track expected, you can find this week’s Randwick tip sheet below, including 2026 The Everest best bets.
While yet to place in two runs back this time, Vivy Air has worked home well to hit the line on both occasions, including the Epsom last time out. Fitter third-up, sticking to the mile and dropping substantially in trip, she gets the services of James McDonald this week and can return to winning form.
| 2. Vivy Air (10) J: James McDonald 60kg 00×80 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and placed third-up previously. First-up eased back early on 8th of 10 in the G3 Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on September 18 over 1500m, 5.5 len behind Fully Lit carrying 58kg at $18. Second-up 13th of 16 in the G1 Epsom Handicap at this track on October 3 over 1600m, on a slow track; 5 len behind God’s Window with 51kg at $91. Massive drop in grade and look for her late. | |||
Having only just been denied in a genuinely run race at Randwick-Kensington when resuming last month, Low Key stepped out to 1400m for the first time out Rosehill second up and led throughout to win by just over a head. Fitter third-up, she retains the services of one of the country’s best front-running riders, Tim Clark.
| 3. Low Key (11) J: Tim Clark 56kg 6×21 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today. First-up held ground to the line 2nd of 7 in a 3yo Mdn-Sw at Randwick Kensington on September 9 over 1150m, nose behind Threads carrying 55kg at $1.45. Second-up favourite; won by a long-neck in a Super 3yo Mdn-Sw at Rosehill on September 30 over 1400m defeating Sapphire Legend carrying 55kg at $1.60. | |||
Polymnia doesn’t win out of turn, but she’s also rarely far away, and after filling the minors of the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle when resuming, she was only denied half a length by Unleeshing back here at Randwick last time out. She meets that horse substantially better at the weights this week and retains the services of Zac Lloyd.
| 7. Polymnia (8) J: Zac Lloyd 54kg 34×32 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up made ground from midfield; 3rd of 14 in the G3 Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle on September 18 over 1400m, 3 len behind Perfumist carrying 55kg at $5. Second-up 2nd of 17 in a Bm94 at this track on October 3 over 1600m, on a slow track; 0.5 len behind Unleeshing with 55kg at $8. Looks a key runner who can score a long overdue victory. | |||
While yet to win in three runs back from a break, Newlook has undoubtedly been on the improve and hit the line to finish fourth in the Group 3 Bart Cummings down at Flemington last time out, performing well on a heavy track in the process. Looking further back to his autumn prep this year, the son of New Bay won the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over this route most notably, beating home Juja Kibo who we last saw winning The Metropolitan here a fortnight ago. The booking of Nash Rawiller is a bonus and I am keen to be with the horse on an each way basis.
| 2. Newlook (12) J: Nash Rawiller 58.5kg 4×904 T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | |||
| Last start 4th of 13 in a G3 The Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 3 over 2520m, on a wet track; 6 len behind Mr Monaco with 54kg at $41. The start before that ran last of 13 in the G3 JRA Cup at Caulfield on September 27 over 2000m, 14 len behind Royal Supremacy with 55kg at $101. | |||
Gallant Star rates as a key winning chance at odds after drawing perfectly. Having finished second in this race last year, the Zoustar gelding has picked off some nice races throughout his career and importantly, has trialled up extremely well ahead of this preparation. He flies fresh and looks to be one of the better each way contenders on the program, in my opinion.
| 3. Gallant Star (3) J: Sam Clipperton 57.5kg x969x T: Brett Robb | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last campaign ninth of 14 at this track Bm94 June 6 over 1300m, soft track; 4.5 len behind Cool Jakey carrying 55kg at $12. Previously first up; ninth of 11 at this track Bm88 April 18 over 1200m, 5 len behind Signor Tortoni carrying 58.5kg at $6.50. | |||
Overpass has proven to be one of the toughest horses in Australia for several years now, picking off a couple of Group 1 feature races alongside several other big and lucrative contests. His fresh record is nothing short of outstanding, and while he will need some early luck to find the lead from a wide draw, he’ll be extremely hard to run down if he does manage to take it up.
| 1. Overpass (19) J: Tim Clark 58.5kg 4x30x T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Dual acceptor. Resuming after a break of four months. Finished off last campaign 13th of 18 at Ascot in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes June 20 over 1207m, 6 len behind Almeraq carrying 59.5kg at $15. When resuming last campaign third of 26 at Ascot in the G1 King Charles III Stakes June 16 over 1005m, 1.0 len behind Mission Central with 60.5kg at $4.30. | |||
The Everest is always an intriguing affair as the world’s best sprinters assemble for what is the world’s richest race run on turf. Ka Ying Rising has understandably maintained odds-on favouritism for several months in The Everest betting, but he has drifted slightly to $1.50 (at publish) after drawing gate 11. That being said, he’s still the best sprinter in the world and will take an absolute power of beating again. My approach to The Everest betting this year will be to have a boxed trifecta and hope one of my other selections; Tempted, Joliestar or Ninja, knocks off Ka Ying Rising. Tempted is the clear danger, having finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest and going to a new level this year, winning all five starts so far in 2016. She’s drawn barrier 1 but with even luck in the run, will be in the finish again. Joliestar has maintained her position as one of Australia’s best sprinters for a couple of years now. She added the Canterbury Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes to her CV in the autumn, the latter at this track and trip, while the booking of James McDonald obviously boosts her claims further as well. Ninja is something of an unknown quantity in this Everest field, but he boasts several good feature races victories of his own, including the Missile Stakes at this track and distance this time in, while his work alongside Ka Ying Rising earlier this month was excellent.
| 1. Ka Ying Rising (11) J: Zac Purton 58.5kg 111×1 T: David A Hayes | |||
| Second-up. Comes off a 41-day let-up. First-up after four months won by 7 len in the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup at Sha Tin on September 6 over 1200m defeating Copartner Prance with 61kg. Previously second-up won by 1.2 len in a G1 The Everest at this track on October 18 over 1200m defeating Tempted carrying 58.5kg at $2. World’s best sprinter who can stamp his authority again. | |||
| 7. Ninja (3) J: Tommy Berry 58.5kg 15×19 T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.2 len in the G2 Missile Stakes at this track on August 8 over 1200m defeating Napoleonic with 57.5kg at $5. Second-up 9th of 11 in a G2 The Shorts at this track on September 19 over 1100m, 2 len behind Mazu carrying 57kg at $4.60. Kept fresh and gets every chance on a rain affected track. | |||
| 8. Joliestar (5) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 1x3x2 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Having second run back today. Last outing came from midfield; 2nd of 11 in a G2 The Shorts at this track on September 19 over 1100m, neck behind Mazu carrying 56kg at $3.70. At only start last preparation tracked the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 18 in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot on June 20 over 1207m, neck behind Almeraq with 58kg at $2.90. Had no luck in this race the last two years, place preferred. | |||
| 9. Tempted (1) J: Chad Schofield 56.5kg 11×11 T: Ciaron Maher | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming favourite; won by a long-neck in the G2 Concorde Stakes at this track on September 5 over 1000m defeating Headwall with 58kg at $1.95. Second run from a spell favourite; won by 3 len in the G2 Premiere Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1200m on a soft track defeating Savvy Hallie carrying 56.5kg at $1.60. Ran second in this race last year and is going even better this prep, shapes as the main danger. | |||
Having ended his last preparation with some strong performances for victory in black type company, Skyhook has undoubtedly gone to another level this time in, winning both the Theo Marks Stakes and the Shannon Stakes easily. With one eye on the Golden Eagle in a fortnight, he’s drawn ideally and can stamp himself as one of Sheza Alibi’s major obstacles by winning again.
| 3. Skyhook (5) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 57.5kg 21×11 T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up favourite; won by 1.2 len in a G2 Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill on September 12 over 1300m defeating Magnatear carrying 56kg at $2. Last start favourite; won by 3 len in the G2 Shannon Stakes at Rosehill on September 26 over 1500m defeating Estadio Mestalla with 58kg at $1.50. | |||
Autumn Glow has opened our short-priced favourite and looks very hard to beat again, having suffered defeat only once in 14 career starts and recorded two excellent wins this time in. I’m going to select her as my winner in an exacta and complete my ticket with Ceolwulf finishing second. A multiple Group 1 winner in his own right, Ceolwulf has turned in three excellent performances since resuming this time and hit the line under topweight to finish second in an Epsom Handicap last time out.
| 1. Ceolwulf (1) J: Chad Schofield 59kg x5232 T: Joseph Pride | |||
| Recent form sound. Most recently 2nd of 16 in the G1 Epsom Handicap at this track on October 3 over 1600m, on a slow track; 1.75 len behind God’s Window with 59kg at $9.50. The race before that 3rd in a small field in the G2 7 Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1600m, 1.5 len behind Autumn Glow carrying 59kg at $15. | |||
| 5. Autumn Glow (4) J: James McDonald 57kg 13×11 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up favourite; won by 1.4 len in the G1 Winx Stakes at this track on August 22 over 1400m on a soft track defeating Sheza Alibi with 57kg at $1.70. Last start favourite; won by 1.3 len in the G2 7 Stakes at this track on September 19 over 1600m defeating Aeliana carrying 57kg at $1.16. | |||
Cross Tasman ended a sharp preparation last time with consecutive second placings in races not dissimilar to this one, while he’s picked up where he left off by finishing second at each of his first two runs back this time, running into some classy opposition in the process. Fitter third-up, he’s proven on both soft and heavy going and will be tough to toss.
| 3. Cross Tasman (14) J: Zac Lloyd 60kg 22×22 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 2nd of 16 in a Goul Cup Mbm98 at Goulburn on August 23 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Just Party with 54kg at $2.80. Second-up 2nd of 10 in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 26 over 1400m, neck behind Decorum carrying 59kg at $3.90. | |||
Best – Race 10 No. 3 Cross Tasman
Next Best – Race 8 No. 3 Skyhook
Value – Race 8 No. 1 Ceolwulf
