Nature Strip has drawn the widest barrier for this year's TAB Everest, as the champion sprinter looks to defend his crown.
The eight-year-old gelding took out the 2021 edition of the race in dominant fashion and is the overwhelming favourite to go back-to-back for Chris Waller, but will have to overcome barrier 12 to take out the $15 million feature.
The wide draw for the eight-time Group 1 winner hasn't impacted his price in the market, with Nature Strip still rated a $1.90 chance with TAB.
Joyful Fortune has drawn the inside barrier for Saturday's race at Royal Randwick, while three-year-old Jacquinot will jump from the second gate.
Group 1 winner Private Eye will jump from barrier three, while the veteran sprinter Eduardo, who has beaten the favourite on multiple occasions, will come from barrier nine for Joseph Pride.
Lost And Running, who many believe is the main danger to Nature Strip, has drawn barrier seven.
The barrier draw was announced on The Jackson yacht around Sydney harbour on Tuesday night, after the actual draw itself was done earlier in the day.
See below for the full Everest 2022 field and barriers, as well as the betting odds courtesy of TAB.
| RUNNER (BARRIER) | JOCKEY | TRAINER | ODDS |
| 1. Nature Strip (12) | James McDonald | Chris Waller | $1.90 |
| 2. Eduardo (9) | Nash Rawiller | Joseph Pride | $13 |
| 3. Lost And Running (7) | Hugh Bowman | John O'Shea | $7 |
| 4. Masked Crusader (10) | William Pike | M, W & J. Hawkes | $11 |
| 5. Mazu (11) | Sam Clipperton | P & P. Snowden | $13 |
| 6. Private Eye (3) | Brenton Avdulla | Joseph Pride | $17 |
| 7. Overpass (6) | Rachel King | Bjorn Baker | $34 |
| 8. Ingratiating (4) | Glyn Schofield | James Cummings | $51 |
| 9. Joyful Fortune (1) | Tom Sherry | Mark Newnham | $71 |
| 10. Shades of Rose (8) | Kerrin McEvoy | Bjorn Baker | $71 |
| 11. Jacquinot (2) | Damian Lane | M.Price/M.Kent Jr | $9 |
| 12. Giga Kick (5) | Craig Williams | Clayton Douglas | $26 |
| 13. Forbidden Love (1E) | N/A | Michael Freedman | $51 |
| 14. Apache Chase (2E) | N/A | Des Forster | $101 |
| 15. Kementari (3E) | N/A | James Cummings | $51 |
| 16. In The Congo (4E) | N/A | G.Waterhouse/A.Bott | $51 |
The Everest will headline a bumper day of racing across the country, with the prestigious Group 1 Caulfield Cup to be held in Melbourne on Saturday.
