The biggest and best program of the Sydney Spring Carnival takes us back to Royal Randwick for 2025 The Everest Day!
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An incredible $20 million goes on the line when Ka Ying Rising steps out amongst a talented field of sprinters. This will be the first time that we see the Hong Kong superstar tested outside of his homeland, and the likes of Briasa, Angel Capital, War Machine and Joliestar are out to spoil the party.
I've dug deep into the form of The Everest and the remaining nine races on the program to provide my complete Randwick best bets below!
Race 1 - Group 3 Reginald Allen Quality (1400m) – 12:30pm AEDT
No. 5 Samarelle
SAMARELLE is third and in my opinion, beautifully placed in the Reginald Allen Quality to kick off The Everest Day.
Having debuted with a fine performance to break her maiden up at Newcastle in July, the Savabeel filly only just missed behind Greygenta in open company at Kembla Grange last time out.
She's trialled up ahead of this contest and back into three-year-old fillies' company, I'm confident she can strike.
Race 2 - Group 3 St Leger Stakes (2600m) – 1:05pm AEDT
No. 9 Sam Hawkens
SAM HAWKENS is a classy stayer and is the one for me in this year's St Leger Stakes field.
The talented import is yet to contest a race her in Australia, but his form abroad was outstanding, and he recorded three-consecutive wins in good staying races before his sea change.
With the Chris Waller polished and under James McDonald, he can hit the ground running on The Everest Day.
Race 3 - Big Dance Wild Card (1600m) – 1:40pm AEDT
No. 5 Swiftfalcon
SWIFTFALCON finds himself in an excellent race on The Everest Day.
The Exceedance gelding was undoubtedly doing his best work through the line when fourth in the Epsom Handicap here a fortnight ago.
He has continued to improve with each of three runs back this time and steps out on Saturday a fit horse, in what looks to be a substantially weaker race.
Race 4 - Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) – 2:15pm AEDT
No. 3 Just Feelin' Lucky
Just like she did a fortnight ago, PEFUMIST will go forward and set a strong tempo in the Angst Stakes but I'm a little concerned over her recent consistency, so I am going to take her on.
One horse that I did think looked over in 2025 Angst Stakes betting is JUST FEELIN' LUCKY for Michael Freedman and Tommy Berry.
She had to do a lot of work from a wide draw down at The Valley last time and have nothing left to give late, but her form prior to that was excellent.
She's hard fit, drawn to receive a far better time of it this weekend from barrier 5 and will appreciate the tempo set up front by the favourite. At around the $15 mark, she looks a terrific each way contender.
Race 5 - The Kosciuszko (1200m) – 2:50pm AEDT
No. 1 Front Page
FRONT PAGE can make his own luck again up on the speed in The Kosciuszko.
A Group 1 performer, the classy veteran rarely turns in a poor effort and was unlucky not to win this race last year, while he has picked off plenty of strong features throughout his career.
In my opinion, Tim Clark is the best frontrunning rider in the country and he can take the horse straight to the lead again from Barrier 6.
Race 6 - Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) – 3:25pm AEDT
No. 8 Ostraka
The Sydney Stakes has fast become one of the best betting races on The Everest Day each year and with another classy list of sprinters engaged, that looks like being the case again.
OSTRAKA has trialled up nicely and looks well placed at this grade in my opinion.
Having returned to action to finish third, beating just over half a length in the Concorde Stakes, Ostraka ran into some of the best sprinters in the country when sixth in The Shorts last time out.
At around the $8 mark in Sydney Stakes betting, I'm keen to have an each way play.
Race 7 - The Everest (1200m) – 4:15pm AEDT
$20 million goes on the line in The Everest and Hong Kong Superstar KA YING RISING continues to dominate the market.
He's unbeaten, he runs fast times, and Zac Purton is in Australia to ride. He's a fitting favourite in The Everest betting and he'll be hard to beat, but this is the strongest field he's met in my opinion, and I can't have the $1.70 about him outright at publish, so I am instead going to have a Same Race Multi.
The other two that I like in The Everest field 2025 are ANGEL CAPITAL and JOLIESTAR.
The former has retuned to the races in typically sharp form this time and looks suited to running on off what will likely be a genuine tempo, while the latter remains one of the best sprinters in Australia and is drawn a peach under James McDonald, who also had the option to ride Lady Shenandoah.
The suggested Same Race Multi below was paying odds of $9.75 at publish.
Same Race Multi selections:
► 1 Ka Ying Rising (Top 3)
► 8 Angel Capital (Top 4)
► 9 Joliestar (Top 4)
Race 8 - Silver Eagle (1300m) – 4:50pm AEDT
No. 1 Linebacker
With on eye on the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill in a fortnight, LINEBACKER is the one for me in Saturday's Silver Eagle.
The Group 1 winner was tough to the line after sustaining a wide run in transit when returning from a break, and he has since trialled extremely well around the likes of Ka Ying Rising.
With even luck in running, I think he'll be very hard to beat in something like this.
Race 9 - Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1609m) – 5:35pm AEDT
No. 6 Pericles
This is a stunning edition of the King Charles III Stakes with plenty of the best milers in Australia engaged, and PERICLES is one that I thought looked a touch of overs in the market ($9.50 at publish).
Pericles returned to action with a dominant display at Group 2 level in the Tramway Stakes last month, while he was doing his best work through the line to fill the minors in the Epsom Handicap last time out.
Fitter third-up and from a nice draw this week, he can slot in behind the early speed of horses like Mr Brightside before calling on that turn of foot once more.
Race 10 - The Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool Handicap (1400m) – 6:10pm AEDT
No. 14 Rock Empire
Tough way to end The Everest Day from a betting perspective and we're faced with $6 the field at publish.
ROCK EMPIRE takes winning form into the race and looks a key winning chance again at around the $8 mark.
Albeit in BM78 company at the midweeks, Rock Empire produced a nice turn of foot to beat his rivals a couple of weeks ago, several of which also wouldn't look out of place racing in town on Saturday.
Rachel King rides from a good draw and we can have something small on each way.
