Newcastle trainer Benjamin Smith will “let the dust settle” and see if an offer from a slot-holder comes in for his impressive first-up Premiere Stakes 2017 winning mare In Her Time to run in the $10 million The Everest (1200m) in a fortnights’ time.

The 2017 The Everest could be calling for impressive Premiere Stakes winning mare In Her Time. Photo: Steve Hart.

Just a couple of spots in the weight-for-age Restricted The Everest race, run back at Royal Randwick on October 14, remain and on Saturday Time Thief mare In Her Time put herself in contention with a gutsy victory on Epsom Handicap Day in the Group 2 $500,000 Premiere Stakes (1200m).

Racing for the first time since her excellent Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival bid that included a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap second and Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara third, the five-year-old added to her nice record when fresh.

Coming off two good Rosehill trials, she posted her second Randwick win in five starts at the track holding out the fast-finishing Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Group 1 winner English who has already secured her spot in The Everest field.

Also good fresh and hailing from a Newcastle stable was the Kris Lees-trained Clearly Innocent, the Kingsford Smith Cup winner at Eagle Farm in late May finishing off the Premiere Stakes trifecta in third in his first run since the Stradbroke Handicap third back on June 10.

Race favourite beaten again today was the ‘Grey Flash’ Chautauqua who found himself at the tail end of the field with too big a margin given to his rivals to feature as a winning hope.

Also 2017 The Everest-bound, the Team Hawkes-trained champion still let down well late when he decided to, finishing off in the Premiere Stakes well with good late sectionals and a solid run through the line.

All honours though went to the Premiere Stakes winner In Her Time who Brown had parked in fifth throughout from the inside barrier.

As mentioned Chautauqua was dead last while Encosta De Lago mare English, coming off a first-up fourth to Redzel in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) from September 16, also had plenty of ground to cover sitting just one in front of the favourite.

Ball Of Muscle set the moderate pace up front on the fence, as In Her Time moved up into fourth before slotting up along the rails once on the straight.

English quickly arrived on the scene giving chase and moving up alongside In Her Time who had hit the lead, but the latter just held on for a thrilling victory to open-up The Everest talks.

“Unbelievable,” winning trainer Smith said.

“Good to see she got the job done.

“She’s tough as nails this horse and she held off English quite well.

“We were praying for the line and it couldn’t come quick enough. It’s great for the mare she just tries 100% all the time and she deserves a race like this against this quality.

“We’ll just let the dust settle today. Nothing might happen [in regards to The Everest] and we’ll go to Melbourne, or something might happen and we’ll stay here.

“It’s a big carrot dangler, $10 million.”

In Her Time has firmed into a $9 chance in all-in The Everest betting odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au, while Chautauqua is out to $6 and English is also paying $9.

Markets are led by the filly She Will Reign ($5) after her impressive from-behind win in the Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Friday night.

To check out the latest The Everest 2017 odds and back In Her Time next race, head to Ladbrokes.com.au today.

2017 Premiere Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Randwick Race 6 – 30/09/2017