The Everest and its $15 million purse have taken Australian, and the world’s, horse racing fraternity by storm. It replaces the Melbourne Cup ($7.75 million) as the world’s richest turf race. The race has an entry system similar to the Pegasus World Cup, which further adds to the intrigue and drama in the lead-up to the race.
The Everest 2022 will be run on Saturday, 15th October, at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney under Weight-For-Age conditions.
Gaining Entry Into The Everest
The Everest is restricted to a final field of 12 horses, and the race has an unusual entry fee structure. “Slot” owners pay a massive $600,000 entry fee annually and get to enter one horse into the race. The slot owners then identify a horse they want to represent them and do a deal to split the prize money with the horse’s owners and trainers if successful.
This causes much speculation in the weeks preceding the Everest, with owners of in-form sprinters spruiking their horses’ form in the hope of getting a start.
The Everest Results
While the Everest race may be in its infancy, one thing is evident; you must be a brilliant sprinter to win the race.
The Snowden-trained REDZEL won the first two versions of The Everest in 2017 and 2018, much to the delight of his many owners. YES YES YES won well in 2019 and was subsequently sold for $20+ million in the hope of becoming a superstar sire. CLASSIQUE LEGEND came with a perfectly timed run to win in 2019, while the all-conquering NATURE STRIP was too good for his rivals in 2021.
The Everest Form Guide
With all the world’s best sprinters gathered for one race, finding the winner of The Everest can be problematic. In the past five years, there has never been a “short-priced favourite” in the race, nor are any horses classified as “outsiders.” Some winners have sat close to the lead, while others have come off the speed. MASKED CRUSADER came with a scorching finish from last in 2021 to be beaten in a photo finish. The winner could come from anywhere in the run.
The Shorts, which run over 1100m at Randwick in mid-September, provides a good form reference for the feature sprint races in the spring. Horses that run well in the Group 1 TJ Smith in the Autumn and then return well in The Shorts are the ones to follow in the Everest.
Who Will Win The Everest 2022?
NATURE STRIP is the current Everest favourite, and it is easy to see why. He was far too good for his rivals in the Group 1 Kings Stand in England at Royal Ascot during the Australian winter and can comfortably be the best sprinter in the world. He won the Everest last year, and there is no reason why he can’t do it again.
Doomben 10000 winner MAZU has won seven from 11 starts and continues to rise to every challenge he’s presented with. Trained by dual Everest winners Peter and Paul Snowden and wearing the same silks as REDZEL, he looks like the main danger to NATURE STRIP going back-to-back in the big race.
The Everest 2022 Predictions & Odds
Palmerbet has a number of betting markets on The Everest 2022, with betting available pre-post or on the day.
The Palmerbet Blog is a fantastic source for up-to-date The Everest betting odds as well as horse betting tips and racing and sports betting markets. Download the Palmerbet app via the app store or visit palmerbet.com.au for all the latest information.
