After months of build-up, The Everest is finally upon us as 12 of the best sprinters in the world battle it out for a share in $15 million at Royal Randwick.
Last year's winner Classique Legend will be looking to follow in the footsteps of Redzel as a two-time Everest winner, while superstar sprinter Nature Strip will be looking to break through after two failed attempts.
Gytrash, Masked Crusader and Eduardo are also chances near the top of the market, in what promises to be an exciting race over 1200m.
The man who will have perhaps the best seat in the house at Randwick is leading caller Darren Flindell, who will be calling all the action in front of 10,000 in attendance and millions watching around the world.
Speaking to Sporting News just days out from The Everest, Flindell gave a preview of every runner in this year's race and gave us his top tip, as well as a roughie.
Check out Darren Flindell's runner-by-runner preview of The Everest 2021 below.
1. NATURE STRIP (10)
J: James McDonald T: Chris Waller
A supremely talented horse on its day, Nature Strip has had a stellar career including six Group 1 victories - but han't won an Everest in two previous attempts.
Nature Strip ran 7th last year after setting the tempo up front, and will need to overcome a wide barrier this year.
The major issue however might not be the gate, but in fact the presence of two other speedy horses in Home Affairs and Eduardo.
Flindell's final say:
“I’m not so concerned about the wide gate with Nature Strip – I’m probably more concerned about the damage that his stablemate could do, Home Affairs," he said.
"He does look pretty fast out of the gates and so far, Home Affairs has been a natural running type in the lead.
"Not only does Nature Strip have to worry about Home Affairs, but he’s also got his old sparring partner Eduardo to think about.
"At the price and the likelihood of him being pulled out of his comfort zone, which can happen with Nature Strip, I’m not rushing to back him at the price that is available."
2. CLASSIQUE LEGEND (5)
J: Kerrin McEvoy T: Les Bridge
He might be last year's winner and again has proven Everest winner Kerrin McEvoy on board again - but it's been a disrupted preparation for the Les Bridge-trainer gelding.
Classique Legend has had just one start since last year's win, running 11th in Sha Tin and suffering a major setback.
The six-year-old has had three barrier trials and won all of them in the lead-up to this year's Everest - but can he make it back-to-back wins?
Flindell's final say:
“Absolutely – he is going to be my top pick in the race, Classique Legend," he said.
"I know there’s a lot going against him, going to Hong Kong and suffering the bleeding attack over there. It has been a long process to get him home, he had to come back via New Zealand and Les (Bridge) has had a big job on his hands.
"He had a horse that was not fit and he has had to try and devise a way to get him there without knocking him about. He has chosen the path of having three barrier trials and there has been great progression from each of them.
"I think the last trial 10 days ago, he went to the line and Kerrin McEvoy had him strangled going over the line. He wasn’t making a noise, he wouldn’t blow a candle out so it would suggest that Les has got the preparation of him spot-on to go back-to-back.
"The pace is going to be strong, I think it has got a lot of similarities to last year – he can just sit back in the field for the first half, relax and then be ready for that one big sprint down the middle of the track late."
3. EDUARDO (7)
J: Nash Rawiller T: Joseph Pride
A big winner in The Shorts in the lead-up, taking down Nature Strip, the eight-year-old will need to improve on that performance again if it is to win The Everest.
Eduardo ran 11th in last year's race after sitting near the front, and there will certainly be concerns as to whether or not it can hold on in the final 200 metres again this year.
Flindell's final say:
“I’d be surprised if he kept going with the intensity of the pace up front," he said.
"He’s racing in brilliant form, Nash Rawiller has a brilliant rapport there with Eduardo and he will try and give him the easiest time up there on the pace without busting a gut.
"I’m sure Eduardo will be around the action at the 200 metres."
4. GYTRASH (1)
J: Jason Collett T: G Richards & D Moyle
A real class horse on its day, Gytrash has drawn the rails for this year's Everest after running a gallant 3rd in last year's race.
It finished behind Nature Strip and Eduardo for 3rd in The Shorts a few weeks back, and will be looking to improve on that effort on Saturday afternoon.
The concern however is whether or not it has regressed since that run during a recent barrier trial.
Flindell's final say:
"On form I do (like it), his only run in Sydney this preparation and arguably if that run opened up, I get the impression he was going to go very close to winning it," he said.
"My only little concern was that I called his trial subsequent to that at Warwick Farm, and they are a little bit hard to get a guide on because only trackwork riders have been able to ride in those trials.
"The fella that rode him was quite heavy, I’d be imagining high 70kgs, and Gytrash had his head up and was labouring in that barrier trial. I’ve got to try and weigh up whether it was the heavy weight in the saddle, or has he regressed since the first start?
"There’s a little bit of an unknown there with Gytrash, his racetrack form is great and ran terrific last year, and has only run in Sydney this preparation and arguably should have gone close to winning.
"He must be respected."
5. TREKKING (4)
J: Josh Parr T: James Cummings
A last-minute pick for the Godolphin slot in the race, Trekking will be looking to improve on its solid showing in last year's Everest, where it finished 4th.
The seven-year-old is always honest and is always capable of running a drum, finishing 3rd in all of its starts in this preparation.
Flindell's final say:
"I’d be looking at a similar position from Trekking this year," he said.
"I don’t look at him as one of the winning chances, but he will be competitive.
"He should certainly be included in trifectas or first fours if you are playing that way."
6. MASKED CRUSADER (9)
J: Tommy Berry T: M, W & J Hawkes
One of the more fancied runners in the race, Masked Crusader has been near the top of the markets in the lead-up to this year's Everest.
In winning form following an impressive showing in the G2 Premiere Stakes a couple weeks back, the five-year-old may need to get a bit closer in the run this time around if it is to win on Saturday.
And if Masked Crusader can win The Everest, the comparisons to the legendary Chautauqua will only grow.
Flindell's final say:
“It’s highly possible because the speed will be similar to what it was last year and that should play into Masked Crusader’s hand," he said.
"He is building up a bit of a following, a lot of people want to compare him to the great grey Chautauqua, as he does tend to produce a similar type of finish.
"The win a fortnight ago was breathtaking, he looked in all sorts of trouble at the 200 metres, but Berry got the gaps and he accelerated so quickly.
"He is his own worst enemy, he gets so far back and it’s very hard in sprint races when Classique Legend might have more tactical speed than him and can be a few lengths closer in the run.
"He’s a very exciting horse Masked Crusader and he definitely could win this, but he’s going to have you in a situation where you will have your hear in your mouth."
7. WILD RULER (11)
J: Tim Clark T: P & P Snowden
Drawn wide for The Everest, Wild Ruler is coming off a nice win in the G1 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley recently.
Unfortunately the gate and soft ground means it faces an uphill battle on Saturday afternoon.
Flindell's final say:
“No – the moisture in the track this week will go against Wild Ruler," he said.
"I’m a big fan of the horse, but he must get on dry tracks. We have had a lot of misty rain, admittedly it will dry out.
"Too risky."
8. THE INFERNO (12)
J: Regan Bayliss T: Cliff Brown
Drawn the widest gate may hurt The Inferno a little bit here, but it is coming off a strong showing for 2nd in the Moir Stakes and has a fantastic career strike-rate with 9 wins from 12 starts.
The five-year-old has already won in Australia since moving over from Singapore this year, and could be a solid each-way hope in The Everest.
Flindell's final say:
"I’m certainly not ruling it out," he said.
"It comes with a nice profile from Singapore and could run up to a mile, so it will be very strong late. He’s already won in Australia so he has proven that he has already acclimatised here.
“If I was going to take a chance with a roughie, I’d go with the ex-Singaporian horse The Inferno. We just don’t know how good he is because I think he was only beaten once in Singapore and has a nice profile.
"Interesting runner, I certainly wouldn’t say no."
9. EMBRACER (3)
J: Jean Van Overmeire T: G Waterhouse & A Bott
A last-minute entry due to an injury to Rothfire, the six-year-old has ran 2nd in both his lead-up races
Unfortunately there isn't much love for Embracer in the market and will probably find this race too tough.
Flindell's final say:
“He’s looked the winner in two races where he’s had a very light weight leading up to this and at the end of the day, he hasn’t been good enough," he said.
"At the set weights, this would be a big ask."
10. LOST AND RUNNING (2)
J: Hugh Bowman T: John O'Shea
Lost and Running has drawn close to the rails in barrier 2 for The Everest, but has failed in the lead-up races.
There was an improvement from its poor effort in The Shorts to its most recent start and while the barrier will aid him, the field might be a bit above his level at this stage.
Flindell's final say:
“He’s certainly improved from his first run to his second run, and the draw gives him the favours," he said.
"He can sort of posy up behind all the leaders, but we haven’t seen enough to suggest that he can beat these types of horses at this level.
"The draw certainly ensures he will get the right run to be a chance to do it."
11. LIBERTINI (8)
J: Sam Clipperton T: Anthony Cummings
Looking to improve from its run in last year's Everest where it ran 8th, Libertini will have its work cut out for it to do much better this year.
The five-year-old hasn't raced since the TJ Smith Stakes in April where it finished 8th, and the recent trials don't incidate it will be winning on Saturday.
Flindell's final say:
“No hope, to be honest," he said.
"The way she is trialling I think she is well-below where she was 12 months ago.
"I couldn’t be entertaining Libertini I’m afraid – she doesn’t seem to be going as well now as in previous seasons."
12. HOME AFFAIRS (6)
J: Glen Boss T: Chris Waller
A stablemate of Nature Strip as previously mentioned, Home Affairs is one of the real chances to topple the favourites in this year's Everest.
Still at single-figure odds and in winning form, the three-year-old will be aided by Glen Boss aka 'Big Race Bossy', who has claimed an Everest previously with Yes Yes Yes in 2019.
Flindell's final say:
“It’s very possible and he looks very exciting," he said.
"He nearly broke the track record at Rosehill when he won the Heritage Stakes. He has got a lot of speed and it probably depends on can Glen harness that speed – will he go forward and make the running, or will he just switch off and relax a little bit behind them.
"He is the real X-factor in the race this year and I wouldn’t be saying no about Home Affairs, he is certainly in the top bracket."
