Michael Wrona previews The Everest at Randwick

Everest Carnival: With the Carnival now in full swing, Randwick will stage stakes races every Friday night in October. The Everest will be run on the 15th at six furlongs for $15 million. Nine of a maximum twelve contenders are confirmed for the world’s richest turf race: last year’s winner, Classique Legend, Nature Strip, Eduardo, Gytrash, Masked Crusader, Rothfire, Lost And Running, The Inferno and Libertini.

Friday Night’s Historic Feature: Sydney’s “Royal Randwick” hosts one of Australia’s time-honored handicaps this Friday night, when the G1 Epsom is contested for the 156th time. The $1.5 million Epsom is emblematic of the tremendous value that Australian racing provides – both as a wagering medium and a sporting spectacle. A field of 17 will commence its mile journey from the top of Randwick’s back stretch, at 11.05pm. Pacific time.

The Favorite: #9 Riodini (4-1) finished 3rd in this race last year and is favorite on the strength of two recent narrow defeats at weight-for-age, both at the Randwick Mile. He almost stole the G2 Chelmsford Stakes at 40-1, only to be grabbed in the last stride by Think It Over, before a gallant 2nd to champion mare Verry Elleegant in the G1 George Main Stakes. Kindly treated under handicap conditions, Riodini will forge his own luck in or near the front, and make the higher weighted horses run him down. His trainer, Gai Waterhouse, is tied with her legendary father, T.J. Smith, for most Epsom wins (7).

The Highweight: In Australia, program numbers do not correspond to post positions. Instead, fields are listed from highest to lowest weighted horses. As a dual-Group One winner, #1 Mo’unga has earned his highweight but must concede 12 pounds to Riodini. (Both have drawn wide gates, but post positions are not significant with a three-furlong run to the first turn.) Mo’unga was the first G1 winner for England native Annabel Neasham, a rising star in Australia’s training ranks.

Contention Runs Deep: The field includes the trifecta horses from the Epsom’s “sister” race, the Doncaster Mile (part of “The Championships at Randwick” each April). #2 Cascadian (12-1) rises seven pounds from his victory over #7 Icebath (8-1) and #3 Dalasan (14-1). Icebath’s prospects are enhanced by the forecast for rain leading up to race day. #6 Hungry Heart (7-1) could have Springsteen fans swooning, but last season’s top 3-year-old filly has shown a preference for firm footing.

Selection: #7 Icebath

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Supporting Stakes: 3-year-old fillies will also utilize Randwick’s one-mile starting point in the G1 Flight Stakes. The G1 Metropolitan Handicap at 1 1/2 miles and a pair of Group Two races add depth to a stellar 10-race card, which includes the first 2-year-old race of the new Australian season (sponsored by Keeneland).

Hot Jocks: Nash Rawiller was last week’s hot jockey, on the back of four wins the previous Friday night. Nash again got the cash, riding a triple and sharing the honors with Tim Clark. (One of Clark’s three winners was my 5-1 Pick of the Night on TVG, Vangelic.)

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TVG this Friday night (First Post: 9:50pm ET / 6:50pm PT). Wagering is available through DRFBets.com. Get FREE PPs for racing from Australia and more International tracks HERE.