Mazu is one of the most exciting horses heading into the spring carnival, and trainer Paul Snowden is hoping he has what it takes to take out the $15 million TAB Everest.
The four-year-old has already had a strong year, taking out five-straight races including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 back in May.
The gelding is now in the running for the richest race on turf, and a win would give Snowden a slice of history.
Having already trained Redzel to Everest victories in 2017 and 2018, Snowden could surpass Chris Waller with a third title if Mazu can topple the great Nature Strip next month.
Waller trained Yes Yes Yes back in 2019, before helping guide Nature Strip last year in a dominant win in Randwick's biggest sprint race of the year.
Speaking at the Everest Carnival launch on Tuesday, Snowden was quizzed on the potential for another Everest win and talked up Mazu's chances in the same red colours the legendary sprinter made famous in the back-half of the 2010s.
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“There’s only one other person that knows what that feels like - Chris Waller," he said.
"The first time was amazing, the second time was magical – the third time, I’ll let you know.
"He’s a really promising horse, he came on leaps and bounds last preparation and we’re looking forward to this one."
One thing that Snowden's rising star has in its favour is a close relationship with jockey Sam Clipperton, who has been credited for his run of form in 2022.
“Sam is young and vicious," Snowden said.
"I really like John O’Shea’s famous quote – he loves a young jockey that’s got debt and a young family - that’s two ticks that Sam has.
"He is out there doing his best and I’ll certainly keep him with the horse."
