It is getting to be crunch time for the connections still looking to get their horse a run in the $15 million Everest with the big race date of October 15 now just eighteen days away.
The names of Nature Strip, Eduardo, Lost And Running, Snapdancer, Mazu and Masked Crusader were already previously locked in by slot holders and now another slot has been formally filled with Aquis selecting the Mark Newnham trained Joyful Fortune as their runner in the big race.
That leaves just fives slots to be filled … and with a wall of horses chasing for the remaining positions there is likely to be as much disappointment as pleasure when the remaining slot holders (Bon Ho, Coolmore, Godolphin, Janes Harron and James Kennedy) secure their runners.
Joyful Fortune, the latest Everest recruit, has only had eight starts, seven of which came (along with two wins) in Hong Kong between July 2020 and July 2021.
Now, another year later, Joyful Fortune finds himself set to tackle to most elite of sprinting company.
He will step out in The Everest after an absolutely scintillating debut win in Australia for his new stable, when he thrashed his opposition, winning by 4.25 lengths when carrying 60.5kg on a heavy 10 surface at Flemington over 1100m on September 18.
Coming into the race on the back of two trials (which he won), Joyful Fortune started favourite that day and, while it is arguably something of a quantum leap from there to The Everest, his credentials extend to far more than just that last start victory as detailed in the Aquis media release announcing their decision.
That Aquis release, in part, reads:
‘By Nicconi – also sire of world champion sprinter and 2021 Everest winner, Nature Strip – Joyful Fortune was something of a sensation on debut at Sha Tin, running a near record of 55.07 seconds and demolishing rivals in a faultless display. It was the third fastest time recorded down the Sha Tin straight.
‘Winning again at his penultimate start in Hong Kong, Joyful Fortune was off the scene for 12 months while recovering from bone chip surgery. Repatriated to Australia, Joyful Fortune turned heads by toppling 2021 Everest third Eduardo in a barrier trial at Randwick in August. It’s only the third time in 16 outings that the multiple Group 1 winner has been beaten in a trial and Joyful Fortune whipped through the 742 metres in 43.72 seconds and overhauled Eduardo on the wire.’
It could be a given that Joyful Fortune should show improvement with the benefit of that first-up run under his belt.
Trainer Mark Newnham has said as much as is very keen on the challenge facing Joyful Fortune, whose name has provided the latest piece in the puzzle of just who fits into the twelve slots available which secures participation in The Everest on what is always a spectacular day of racing.
