Terravista has been the forgotten horse in The Everest talks
As names are being bandied about for spots in the $10 million Everest, it seems Terravista has been forgotten.
But Joe Pride is training him as if he is already in the race and hopes someone who holds a slot can see the wisdom in including the gelding in the 1200m-sprint on October 14.
A dual Group One winner and multiple placegetter at the highest level, Terravista has an exceptional first-up record and the plan is to go to the Everest fresh.
“I’m keen to get him in,” Pride said.
“We know how good he is and he’s terrific first-up so that’s the plan and he’ll be ready to go.
“He will have a sequence of trials, most likely three, starting on the 25th of August to have him primed for the Everest.”
Pride said he had been in discussions primarily with the Australian Turf Club which has bought a slot in the race which they put out to tender.
“I’d love him to be there. I’m confident he can beat any other sprinter on his day,” Pride said.
“He is only lightly raced for an eight-year-old. He has only had 27 starts and we saw how he won the Lightning first-up in the autumn.
“They spruiked the good three-year-olds but he blew them away.”
Among Terravista’s Group One performances was an unlucky second in the 2016 Lightning Stakes when he was nosed out by Chautauqua after Damien Oliver fumbled his whip.
Chautauqua is the $4.60 favourite in The Everest odds ahead of Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and Irish colt Caravaggio who are both at $8.
Caravaggio is now in doubt to take the slot for his owners, Coolmore, after a disappointing sixth in the Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville on Sunday.
