The best sprinters Australia has to offer line up in the $15 Million TAB Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday, with a field of 12 set to line up. The track rating is unknown given rain is forecast, so how the track plays will be known as the meeting progresses.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2021 TAB Everest.
2021 TAB Everest Speed Map
Eduardo and Nature Strip will be 1-2. It just depends who will lead. Eduardo is a query at 1200m at this level so will he hand up and get the sit behind Nature Strip or hold the lead? And what about Lost And Running from gate two? I dare say he will opt for the sit, which puts Gytrash three back the fence. Home Affairs was a dominant all the way winner fresh and with the three year old weight, he could press forward and land 1/1.
2021 TAB Everest Runner Preview
1. Nature Strip: His best is clearly good enough to win. It all depends what pressure is on in front, because I do feel he is at his best when he leads and has control. He can sit outside the speed and still be effective but I feel he is better when leading. He can win, clearly…but I have him slightly down the pecking order.
2. Classique Legend: It’ll be an all time training effort from Les Bridge to get this horse to win this race first up. But he has the runs on the board and I think most would agree that if he runs up to what he produced last year, I think he’ll win. I’m not going to doubt a hall of fame trainer. He knows his horse and if he’s happy, so am I. The one to beat.
3. Eduardo: He is a Group l winner at 1200m via the 10,000, but this is a different 1200m all together. 1200m at this level, he has been safely held in The Everest and earlier this year in the TJ Smith. The saving grace is a potential wet track. He’s one of the better swimmers in Australia so if he can get his toe in, then it’s a whole new ball game and he comes into the mix. But I do have a few others ahead of him.
4. Gytrash: I was hard against him last year and he made a mug of me when running a slashing race behind Classique Legend. But as I have said, if Classique Legend turns up similar to how he was last year, he wins. Gytrash needs to improve from 12 months ago. Has he improved? Off what I have seen, it’s a no for me. So I’m hard against him again.
5. Trekking: He’s so honest this guy and is rarely away from the good horses. The knock with him is that he can’t get the job done against the big boys and he’s a while between wins. And if the track is wet, he’ll struggle big time.
6. Masked Crusader: If things fall into place, he can win. But, things do need to fall into place. He doesn’t want to be 10+ lengths off the speed 600m out, but given the way he races, that is what’s likely. I can’t see him giving Classique Legend a start and beat him if that horse is right. But he’s a definite first three threat.
7. Wild Ruler: I think on a firm deck, he has the ability to be a top six chance. That is the case in both runs this time in. But his form on wet ground speaks for itself. It is rank and I doubt he’ll beat a runner home if this track is wet.
8. The Inferno: On form I’m saying no. The McEwen form is rank and the 1-3 from the Moir were comfortably held by Nature Strip in the Concorde. The form does tie and off it, I think The Inferno struggles. That is on current form. But off what he did in Singapore, he lapped up fast run 1200m races, and that is what he’ll get here. But in four editions of The Everest, the form has been Sydney predominantly.
9: Embracer: He’s a horse in ripping form but is probably the best of what is left and available. He would have been extremely hard to beat in the Sydney Stakes. Good on connections for getting a slot but I think he struggles.
10: Lost And Running: The only way Lost And Running was going to be considered was if he drew a soft gate and voila, he has gate two. He’s had no luck in two runs back from a break but that will all change here with the gate to do no work behind the speed and go back to the Autumn, he did run times of a Group l horse. Must for exotics.
11. Libertini: If you knew she was 100% right and would get a firm deck, I would have her as a knockout chance. But the trials have been plain, the piece of work between races at Rosehill last Wednesday, the chance of a wet track…letting her go through to the keeper.
12. Home Affairs: The race is better I feel when there is the 3YO element and he is that. The question being is he a one trick pony? Led and spanked them in the Heritage, then led Nature Strip in the jumpout last Wednesday. Can he lead throughout and win an Everest? I’m saying no. If he is able to take a sit and still be effective, then they are cooking with gas and he’s in with a shout.
2021 TAB Everest $100 Betting Strategy:
I think each way Classique Legend is the bet to have. You will get an each way price given the set up and the Pro’s not liking it. I feel it is okay for him and he just has to run up to his win last year to be winning again. $50 each way.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $1680
Group l Strategy Return: $1270.5
