There are 12 of the season’s most exciting sprinters in the mix to face off at Royal Randwick on Saturday in the world-class now Group 1 $20 million The Everest (1200m), and below we have a look at the arguments for and against each runner as they prepare to line-up in the lucrative event.

With a dozen horses to do The Everest form on it can seem a task to sort through the various lead-up runs, track and distance statistics, stables, breeding, and more to uncover the best gallopers to back in the eighth edition of the world’s richest turf race.

We have two of last year’s placegetters with the well-backed I Wish I Win for Moody & Coleman chasing a win on the back of his second in 2023 and Private Eye for Joe Pride lining up in his third The Everest field.

There is a former champion in the 2022 winner Giga Kick looking for another The Everest trophy, some flying mares including the always-honest Bella Nipotina, and a brilliant three-year-old contingent led by another for Ciaron Maher in Growing Empire.

So, let’s get into it so you can head over to Ladbrokes.com.au and lock in your The Everest tips!

1. I Wish I Win (9)

• Pros: Third-up and ready to fire with a lovely record at the track and distance plus the devastatingly close 2nd in 2023. Will relish the sting out of the track. Going as good as ever. A class horse and three-time Group 1 champion. Right gate with room from nine and has the versatility to handle any track.
• Cons: Faces a field of gun youngsters that have been set for this. Might have had his time.

2. Giga Kick (3)

• Pros: Still lightly raced for a 5YO but with an incredible record behind him including a win in this race in 2022. Great gate (3) and Mark Zahra is a champion rider. Right track and distance and the right form lines including a fourth under a length beaten in the Premiere Stakes.
• Cons: Was an unbeaten 3YO when he won this and now faces a field of young guns set for the event as he was. Things went amiss and he was absent a year after the McEwen last year. Fading late in the Premiere Stakes so might not be travelling as well as hoped.

3. Private Eye (10)

• Pros: Loves this race already a two-time The Everest placegetter. A Group 1 Epsom winner over a mile and equally as strong in the country’s best sprints.
• Cons: Has had his chance in this race twice before and is getting on now. Beaten by most of these rivals at least once over the past six months. Wide draw. Looked flat in the Premiere considering.

4. Bella Nipotina (12)

• Pros: Class mare. Multiple Group 1 winner coming via back-to-back placings in the Concorde and Premiere Stakes. Should have won the Group 2 last time out. She’s tough and she’s talented. Would love the rain to arrive.
• Cons: Mares are yet to finish better than 4th in an Everest. Has to overcome barrier 12 of 12.

5. I Am Me (1)

• Pros: Rails drawn chasing a hat-trick. Fit and firing on all cylinders. Randwick specialist with four wins form five starts at the track. Comes off the Concorde – The Shorts winning double. Won’t get a better chance than this. Has winning form over some of the better supported and ready for the 1200m now.
• Cons: If it is a wet track that won’t suit. Mares need to prove themselves in this race.

6. Stefi Magnetica (6)

• Pros: Apprentice Zac Lloyd is on fire and gets the ride. She’s a progressive 4YO who beat Bella home in the Group 1 Stradbroke in the winter. First-up second in The Shorts was eye-catching.
• Cons: Yet to win at either the track or the 1200m.

7. Sunshine In Paris (8)

• Pros: Exciting mare with a stellar 1200m record (7:4-1-1) and a 50% winning strike rate. Second-up and fitter after a successful Group 2 Sheraco Stakes title defence. Plenty of upside. Good Group 1 TJ Smith performance second-up last prep at this track/trip.
• Cons: Noted fresh might not be as sharp second-up against some of these rivals. Gate eight might not be ideal for her.

8. Joliestar (4)

• Pros: Market mover and versatile Chris Waller mare who won the Group 1 Thousand Guineas before a drop back to beat the boys in the Group 2 Arrowfield as 3YO. Brilliant gate for her (4) and James McDonald is one of the best in the business. Two-from-two at this course/distance, Group 3 winner by 3 lengths first-up and lead-up Sheraco third was excellent.
• Cons: Toughest test to date. Could want a little extra distance now. Needs to prove herself.

9. Growing Empire (7) 

• Pros: Kerrin McEvoy factor with the three-time The Everest winning hoop to ride. Young colt doing plenty right with four wins. Flies at the 1200m (4:3-1-0) and Group 1 Manikato last time out was devastatingly close. Improving each time out.
• Cons: Yet to have an official Sydney race start so going the other way. Up to 53kg at WFA. Is he up to that challenge? Might need a little more furnishing.

10. Traffic Warden (2)

• Pros: James Cummings is confident. Drew a treat in gate two. Well-conditioned with plenty of tough 1400m runs including a Golden Rose second last time out when narrowly denied by stablemate Broadsiding. Back to 1200m will suit and he won the Group 2 Run to the Rose in a blistering late burst fresh.
• Cons: Does he bring in the right form lines for this? Needs to show his hand against the more seasoned runners.

11. Storm Boy (5)

• Pros: Barrier 5 has produced the past two The Everest winners. Was huge first-up in the Group 3 San Domenico. Under a length back fourth in the Golden Rose.
• Cons: Could his form be teetering off somewhat? Habit of missing the kick won’t be tolerated by these rivals. Pressure is on now.

12. Lady Of Camelot (11)

• Pros: Golden Slipper winner. Huge Group 1 Moir second to kick off her spring. Good weight-wise here.
• Cons: No filly has won The Everest to date and the boys could have her measure here looking to atone for their Golden Slipper defeat. Barrier 11 does her no favours. Yet to win from three Randwick runs. Last start seventh in The Shorts left a bit to be desired.

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