By Michael Wrona, International Racing Expert
The world's richest race on turf, The Everest, will be run for the 8th time – and first as a Group 1 – at Sydney's Royal Randwick Racecourse this Friday night. A record number of females and 3-year-olds ensures diversity as well as brilliance among the 12-strong field, sprinting six furlongs for a share of the AU$20 million purse. As part of the same incredible program, His Majesty King Charles will likely witness Pride of Jenni (Australian Horse of the Year) in the King Charles III Stakes at one mile. While (presumably) not rubbing shoulders with the King, "Dubbs" Anderson and Sky Racing's Jason Witham will also be trackside, broadcasting live on FanDuel TV. Roberto Rodriguez will provide a Spanish broadcast on DRF En Espanol. There have been few occasions on which Randwick has been more Royal: first post is 9:30 p.m. Eastern / 6:30 p.m. Pacific.
Pride of Jenni was already established as a dedicated, dangerous front-runner, but nobody anticipated the daring heist perpetrated by jockey Declan Bates in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1-1/4 miles) this past April. While beaten riders were criticized for a lack of initiative, they were understandably reluctant to take horses out of their comfort zones… and presumed Pride of Jenni would come back to them after leading by a whopping 30 lengths. In what was instantly lauded as one of the world's greatest front-running feats in a Group/Grade 1 event, the 6-year-old mare still had six lengths to spare at the finish. Pride of Jenni makes her first visit to Royal Randwick since, on the back of a scintillating Group 2 victory at a mile in Melbourne – winning by 1-1/2 lengths after leading by 10.
King Charles will be making his 16th visit to Australia, but first as reigning monarch, when attending the only racetrack in the world with "Royal" as an official prefix. Queen Elizabeth formalized the name of Royal Randwick during a visit in 1992, when opening a new grandstand. Pride of Jenni can achieve perfect symmetry by completing the Queen Elizabeth – King Charles Stakes double (furthermore, the races carry an identical purse of AU$5 million). Among 11 rivals – seven of whom are Group 1 winners – Pride of Jenni (7-5) needs to stave off Fangirl (5-2) and Ceolwulf (7-1), each a last-start winner over Royal Randwick's mile course. (Fangirl won last year's inaugural running of the King Charles.)
Now, let's take a look at the Group One $20 million Everest over 6 furlongs.
The Everest veterans:
I Wish I Win [#1, PP9, 5-1] 2nd in 2023 and one of the nation's elite performers at six-to-seven furlongs across the past two years. Had little chance from his gate when an excellent last-start 3rd in a Melbourne G1.
Giga Kick [#2, PP3, 12-1] Winner in 2022 as a lightly raced Melbourne 3-year-old making his first start in the clockwise Sydney direction. Missed 12 months through injury; two races since did not convince Sydney's champion jockey, James McDonald, to stick.
Private Eye [#3, PP10, 30-1] 2nd in 2022 and 3rd in 2023. A marvel, but winless in 13 months and not well treated at the post position draw.
{Think About It, who won The Everest last year, is one of four Also Eligibles who will otherwise contest the G3 Sydney Stakes, an outstanding race in its own right on Friday night's undercard.}
The Everest females:
Bella Nipotina [#4, PP12, 8-1] Similarities with Pride of Jenni: both are by the sire Pride of Dubai, both turned seven in August and both have been in career-best form in 2024. Alas, there is nothing "bella" about the extreme outside post position.
I Am Me [#5, PP1, 15-1] 11-for-23 lifetime; 4-for-5 at Randwick; 2-for-2 this campaign. Jockey Nash Rawiller: "She drew inside in her two lead-up runs and was able to take full advantage. If we get inside three it would be a great help." ~ Gate 1.
Stefi Magnetica [#6, PP6, 12-1] Narrowly defeated #4 Bella Nipotina in a G1 at seven furlongs in June. Slashing 2nd in only race since, when should have beaten #5 I Am Me.
Sunshine In Paris [#7 PP8, 9-1] G2 winner vs mares five weeks ago; won the same race last year and was bound for The Everest as a leading hope before an injury derailment. 12-month redemption plan.
Joliestar [#8, PP4, 5-1] Explosive 4-year-old debut before a flat 3rd at odds-on. J-Mac's pick over #2 Giga Kick, but both horses might now be looking for more ground to excel at the elite level.
Lady of Camelot [#12, PP11, 50-1] Would become the first 3-year-old filly and first winner of the Golden Slipper (world's richest 2-year-old race) to also win The Everest. Can't be done from gate 11. (Overlaps the next category as The Everest's only 3-year-old filly.)
The Everest 3-year-olds:
Growing Empire [#9, PP7, 6-1] Smells fragrantly of 2022 winner Giga Kick, as a lightly raced sprinter who has lit up Melbourne and makes his Sydney (clockwise) debut. Last-start close 2nd in G1 debut against elders (#1 I Wish I win 3rd).
Traffic Warden [#10, PP2, 6-1] Topline colt, undoubtedly among his age group's best, but excels at seven furlongs. This writer is taking a stand against #2 Giga Kick, #8 Joliestar and #10 Traffic Warden at the distance.
Storm Boy [#11, PP5, 12-1] Headline juvenile, 3rd as favorite in the Golden Slipper. Suited cutting back a furlong after a tiring 4th in the G1 Golden Rose (#10 Traffic Warden 2nd). Explosive at best, but gate tardiness has twice proven insurmountable.
Michael Wrona's four most-likely winners (in value order) ~ #6 Stefi Magnetica, #7 Sunshine In Paris, #9 Growing Empire, #1 I Wish I Win
The Randwick card will be broadcast live on FanDuel TV this Friday night (First Post: 9:30 p.m. ET / 6:30 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle and Ascot. All races will be live-streamed in HD on the Sky Racing World App, skyracingworld.com and major ADW platforms such as TVG, TwinSpires, Xpressbet, NYRABets, WatchandWager, HPIbet, FanDuel and AmWager. Wagering is also available via these ADW platforms. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com.
About Michael Wrona
A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael's vast U.S. experience includes; race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington and Santa Anita, calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders' Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.