The richest race run on turf takes place in Sydney on Saturday, our comprehensive 2017 The Everest form guide and betting preview on the $10 million showdown found below.

The Australian Turf Club (ATC) took a massive gamble introducing this highly-anticipated, and early on in some circles criticised, slot-race.

It looks to have paid out big time however with the Restricted The Everest (1200m) proving a massive success with racing fans and punters even before race day.

A star-studded field of 12 sprinters take to the Randwick track in the ‘buy-in’ weight-for-age showdown and it is a wide open affair.

Updated The Everest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have She Will Reign and Vega Magic as co-favourites at $5.

The price on Gary Portelli’s dual Group 1 winning filly has eased despite her favourable barrier two draw, while the Lindsay Park-trained last start Memsie Stakes champ Vega Magic is the genuine The Everest market mover.

Throw into the mix the ‘Grey Flash’ Chautauqua ($5.50), in-form Team Snowden-trained sprinter Redzel ($7.50) and Hong Kong import Redkirk Warrior ($8.50) drawn in barriers five – three respectively and The Everest race is going to be a hotly contested affair.

To help uncover any value in the event below we go over the full The Everest 2017 Form Guide before you head to Ladbrokes.com.au to lock in your tips at the right price.

1. CHAUTAUQUA

Odds: $5.50

Slot Holder: GPI Racing

Age: 7yo

Breeding: Encosta De Lago-Lovely Jubly

Trainers: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes

Owners: R and C Legh Racing, GPI Racing, Gurners Bloodstock Co, Mr G Pulitano, Mr SW Kay, Ms MA Keating, Wright Racing, Throsby Racing

Jockey: Brenton Avdulla

Barrier: 5

Prizemoney: $8,376,935

Record: 30 starts 13-7-4

Track: 8:3-1-1

Distance: 18:8-6-1

Track/Dist: 5:3-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 6^th, Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), Randwick, 30/09/2017

There is no denying Chautauqua is the champion sprinter in The Everest field, but is he racing at his best? His historical three straight TJ Smith Stakes wins have been at this track / distance and he’s been up against the best horses going around for the past few seasons. International Group 1 winner and he is third-up set to peak. Has been flashing home from the back for his unplaced runs in The Shorts and Premiere Stakes. Always shows up for the big races and if the tempo is on, he’s not done yet.

2. VEGA MAGIC

Odds: $5

Slot Holder: Max Whitby and Neil Werrett

Breeding: Lope De Vega — Admirable

Trainers: David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig

Owners: Mr WH Daly, Mr GE Daly

Jockey: Craig Williams

Barrier: 10

Prizemoney: $1,859,050

Record: 17 starts 12-2-1

Track: 0: 0-0-0

Distance: 12: 9-1-1

Track/Dist: 0: 0-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), Caulfield, 02/09/2017

This powerhouse performer is WA-owned and did all of his early racing in Perth where he dominated in plenty. Kicked off this new era with Lindsay Park winning the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m) in Adelaide and the stable has never doubted him. Undefeated in his past four, including a first-up Listed win at Caulfield under a big weight (60.5kg). Last seen winning the Memsie Stakes and has been kept fresh since for the 1200m of The Everest. Randwick will suit and the money is coming for him. How good that Memsie Stakes form line is will be found out and he’ll need a bit of luck from the barrier, but one of the genuine winning hopes.

3. REDZEL

Odds: $7.50

Slot Holder: James Harron

Breeding: Snitzel-Millrich

Trainers: Peter and Paul Snowden

Owners: Triple Crown Syndications, Ten Players, MJ Allen, Walfam No 2, Mr P Piras, Mr VP Chau, Mr TW Cheng, Mr MR Waddington, Mrs A Gibson, Dr A Kuok, Mr JW Medland, Mr T Kocovski, Mrs P Di maco, Mr L Halloran, Mr ME Hardwick, Mr BD Playford, Mr DD Yates, Mr A Savage

Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy

Barrier: 4

Prizemoney: $1,365,250

Track: 7: 4-1-1

Distance: 4: 2-0-0

Track/Dist: 1: 1-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 2 The Shorts (1100m), Randwick, 16/09/2017

Team Snowden-trained short-distance specialist is flying and chases fifth win on the trot. Last time out he defeated a class field in The Shorts, his fourth win from seven runs at Randwick. Winning Rosehill trial in the interim brings him on fitness wise and gets the gun run from barrier four. He is the improver in this race going from strength to strength over the past year, he’s in super form and only needs to prove he’s as good at 1200m to handle this field and take it to the next level again.

4. REDKIRK WARRIOR

Odds: $8.50

Slot Holder: The Star

Breeding: Notnowcato — Flag

Trainers: David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig

Owners: Mr MB Lee, Miss YCJ Tam

Jockey: Regan Bayliss

Barrier: 3

Prizemoney: $1,384,020

Record: 13 starts 6-2-0

Track: 2: 0-0-0

Distance: 3: 2-1-0

Track/Dist: 0: 0-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m), Flemington, 16/09/2017

This Lindsay Park-trained Hong Kong import made history winning the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) first-up in something like a century, so he’s pretty good obviously. Sydney runs in the autumn were marred by Heavy tracks. Back to his brilliant best first-up with a two and a half-length romp home at Flemington, and that’s probably the key. He is a genuine ‘Straight Six’ specialist and not sure if he can win this with a corner to contest against this grade of gallopers.

5. CLEARLY INNOCENT

Odds: $13

Slot Holder: Damion Flower

Breeding: Not A Single Doubt — No Penalty

Trainer: Kris Lees

Owners: Cressfield

Jockey: Hugh Bowman

Barrier: 6

Prizemoney: $1,238,600

Record: 17 starts 9-1-2

Track: 4: 1-0-1

Distance: 4: 1-1-1

Track/Dist: 1: 0-0-1

Lead-Up Run: 3^rd, Group 2 Premiere Stakes, 1200m, Randwick, 30/09/2017

Punters looking for value, this horse is it. Has the Hugh Bowman x-factor and the double-figures are generous. He was on fire in the winter in Queensland including the three length win in the wet in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m). Sure that suggests he’s better over further, but wouldn’t rule him out after the eye-catching third in the Premiere Stakes. Mid-field barrier is ideal and if it’s not too sharp for him, here’s a blowout chance.

6. DEPLOY

Odds: $11

Slot Holder: Chris Waller Racing

Breeding: Fastnet Rock-Crimson Reign

Trainer: Gerald Ryan

Owners: Torryburn Stud, Segenhoe, Stallion Racing

Jockey: Josh Parr

Barrier: 7

Prizemoney: $597,985

Record: 16 starts 8-5-1

Track: 4: 3-1-0

Distance: 7: 4-1-0

Track/Dist: 2: 2-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m), Rosehill, 09/09/2017

Winx trainer Chris Waller might not saddle-up any The Everest horses, but he has one racing for him as a slot-holder in the form of this consistent Gerald Ryan-trained gelding. Deploy is a genuine Randwick specialist and his latest win here was in August’s Show County Quality. Beat dual Oaks winner Egg Tart home in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes last time out by four lengths at Rosehill breaking the track record there after doing the same at Randwick the start before, and she’s a key Toorak Handicap contender in Melbourne this weekend. Sure he’s consistent and going well, but feel this is a little over his head.

7. FELL SWOOP

Odds: $61

Slot Holder: Inglis

Breeding: Not A Single Doubt — Touched In Flight

Trainer: Matthew Dale

Owners: Mrs AE Dale, Ms ME Porter, Mr MW Curtis, Mr PA Armstrong, Mr ME Richards, Mr GA Singh, Mr MJ Condon, Mr SL Dowling, In Flight Group, Single Flight, Mr I De Landelles, Miss SM Barnes, Mrs J Curtis, Mrs J Condon, Ms A Coxon, Mrs KJ Armstrong, Mr MJ Stapleton, Mrs RM Barnes

Jockey: Tye Angland

Barrier: 8

Prizemoney: $1,596,670

Record: 25 starts 9-4-3

Track: 6: 1-1-1

Distance: 11: 4-2-2

Track/Dist: 3: 0-1-1

Lead-Up Run: 8^th, Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), Randwick, 30/09/2017

One of the outsiders from a betting perspective based on his two disappointing runs this time in. There is form from the autumn however as he finished third in the TJ Smith Stakes behind two fellow The Everest hopefuls and has been luckless running second in a couple of previous Group 1 sprint races. There were genuine excuses last time out in the Premiere Stakes when caught wide, so there’s always a chance he’ll return to that previous form and surprise.

8. BRAVE SMASH

Odds: $26

Slot Holder: Australian Turf Club

Breeding: Tosen Phantom-Tosen Smash

Trainers: Darren Weir

Owners: Australian Bloodstock, Mt Hallowell Stud, Power Thoroughbreds, Mr G Kairouz, Carty Racing, Walker Racing And Bloodstock, Mr AA Brogan, Mr DG Butcher, Platinum Breeding and Racing, Dr PC Goel, Mr DI Canny, Mr TN Porter, Mr TA Ginnane, Mr M Johnston, Mr DJ O’Connor, Mr BL Shannon, Mrs KM Davis, Mrs K Cicciarelli, Brave Smash, Mr CA Bates

Jockey: Jamie Spencer

Barrier: 9

Prizemoney: $923,773

Record: 16 starts 3-6-1

Track: 0: 0-0-0

Distance: 4: 1-2-0

Track/Dist: 0: 0-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 2^nd, Listed Testa Rossa Stakes (1200m), Caulfield, 23/09/2017

The ATC runner in their new showcase race, this Darren Weir-trained Japanese import is a slight unknown in the event. The stallion has had three runs down under, all in Melbourne, so is yet to show what he’s got on his Sydney leg. Form around Vega Magic with the Real Roller second on debut in Australia, won at Moonee Valley next-up and then finished second as the beaten odds-on favourite in a Caulfield black-type. This is some iffy form to follow and he looks a little short. Could improve though with the blinkers on, but still looks risky.

9. ENGLISH

Odds: $11

Slot Holder: TAB

Breeding: Encosta De Lago — Court

Trainers: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Owners: Newhaven Park

Jockey: Blake Shinn

Barrier: 12

Prizemoney: $2,654,700

Record: 19 starts 5-3-1

Track: 12: 4-2-1

Distance: 9: 1-3-1

Track/Dist: 5: 1-2-1

Lead-Up Run: 2^nd, Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m), Randwick, 30/09/2017

Gai Waterhouse promised a “song and dance” if her mare wins, but after the barrier draw (12 of 12) the show looks on hold. There’s work for this Group 1 winner to do, but she hasn’t won in a while and think she might be looking for 1400m. Still, the Premiere Stakes second from well back in the field was an excellent performance and she presents fit third-up. Was just nosed out of the TJ Smith win by Chautauqua so class-wise she is capable. She’s a chance and will be running on from the back again.

10. SHE WILL REIGN

Odds: $5

Slot Holder: Yu Long Investments

Breeding: Manhattan Rain-Courgette

Trainers: Gary Portelli

Owners: Mr MD Holland, Mrs KA Allison, Mr G Bachell, Mr RA Barrett, Mr MJ Cameron, Mr BP Craig, Mr M Evans, Mr B Furness, Mr JA Haworth, Mr T Hill, Mr JA Green, Mr R Kewley, Mr A Pieper, Mr JW Stone, Mr MR Tobin, Mr RS Wallace, Mr CJ Webb, Mr AR Whatson, Mr MC Field, Twoipee Racing

Jockey: Corey Brown

Barrier: 2

Prizemoney: $2,854,150

Record: 6 starts 5-1-0

Track: 2: 1-1-0

Distance: 2: 1-1-0

Track/Dist: 1: 0-1-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m), Moonee Valley, 29/09/2017

Originally all the money in The Everest betting was on this Golden Slipper Stakes winning filly who is proving to have some pretty incredible ability. She won four of her five starts as a two-year-old and couldn’t have been more impressive in the Slipper winning by over two lengths on the mud track. She brings a different form line into the race having won Moonee Valley’s Moir Stakes first-up as a three-year-old (the first to do so since Tontonan in 1974) in a gutsy effort. Weight-for-age again so weighted to win and gets things her way from the barrier. There’s a drift and if you fancy the filly, now is the time to back her.

11. HOUTZEN

Odds: $21

Slot Holder: Aquis Farm

Breeding: I Am Invincible-Set To Unleash

Trainer: Toby Edmonds

Owners: Miss J Edmonds, Just Fun Racing, G1G Racing and Breeding, Aquis Farm, Mr CM Casey, Mr GM Lawrence, Mr PJ Mullen, Ms X Huang, Mr NA Warren, Mr SI Hargreaves, Mr PJ Ledgerhose. Mr PJ Peters, Mr SJ Shirley, Mr AK Warren, Raffles Thoroughbred Racing

Jockey: Jeff Lloyd

Barrier: 1

Prizemoney: $1,559,600

Record: 7 starts 5-0-1

Track: 0: 0-0-0

Distance: 3: 2-0-0

Track/Dist: 0: 0-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 1^st, Group 3 Champagne Stakes (1200m), Moonee Valley, 29/09/2017

If She Will Reign is a $5 chance and you fancy that, then the 21s on offer for Houtzen is juicy. She looks the forgotten filly in the field, despite the feats she achieved as a juvenile. Magic Millions Classic winner and set a weight-carrying 2YO record (63kg) in Brisbane against the boys. Fifth in the Golden Slipper was due to the wet track and wide alley. She was a bit disappointing first-up when third in the McEwen Stakes but back to winning form last time out. Odds-on and should have won by more than a length, but could just be warming up. WFA suits and gets the inside run so does tick a few boxes.

12. TULIP

Odds: $51

Slot Holder: Coolmore

Breeding: Pierro-Musidora

Trainers: David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig

Owners: Coolmore, Cobra, Mr MJ Kirwan, Mr JW Hillier, Mr GP Heffernan

Jockey: Tim Clark

Barrier: 11

Prizemoney: $593,875

Record: 8 starts 2-2-1

Track: 2: 0-0-0

Distance: 4: 1-1-1

Track/Dist: 0: 0-0-0

Lead-Up Run: 4^th, Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m), Randwick, 16/09/2017

The roughie of the race, but don’t forget she did run third in the Golden Slipper Stakes. That was because she relished the wet and she looks unlikely to get that on Saturday. Last time out was under three lengths beaten by this weekend’s Thousand Guineas favourite Alizee, who franked the form with her Flight Stakes win. Tulip doesn’t look the same grade as those fillies or this field and deserves the long odds.