Royal Randwick Everest Racing Carnival 2023

More than AU$87 million in purses will be distributed across a multitude of stakes races during the Sydney Everest Carnival beginning this Friday night and including the seventh running of The Everest on Oct. 13 (US date/time). The immediate, stunning success of The Everest had already established the six-furlong, “slot-holder” event as the world’s richest race on turf, but this year’s renewal sees a whopping 33% purse increase to an eye-watering AU$20 million. 

Friday night’s card contains a key prep for The Everest, named The Shorts (G2), which is the eighth of 10 races, broadcast live at TwinSpires and Sky Racing World. First post at Royal Randwick is 9:50 p.m. ET/6:50 p.m. PT.

The Shorts is an old race, dating back to 1867, but became instantly linked to The Everest when inaugural winner Redzel used it as his final prep in 2017. Classique Legend also did the Shorts – Everest double in 2020, and numerous placegetters have featured in both races. This year, The Shorts seems even more critical because seven of the 12 available “slots” for The Everest remain up for grabs. 

Thus, The Shorts (5 1/2 furlongs) has the strong feeling of an audition. 

• #1 Private Eye (8-1) and #2 Mazu (12-1) finished second and third respectively in The Everest last year; Mazu has already secured a slot for next month’s race. 
• #3 Lost And Running (10-1) was fourth in The Everest of 2021 and third in The Shorts last year. 
• #4 Overpass (9-2) was second in The Shorts and sixth in The Everest last year. 
• #5 In Secret (2-1) is a brilliant sprinting mare, widely expected to be selected by owner Godolphin to fill their slot. 
• #6 Buenos Noches (6-1) is a lightly raced, exciting prospect. 
• #7 Remarque (6-1) was finally gelded and is starting to showcase his latent talent. 
• #8 Ruthless Dame (16-1) split Sunshine In Paris, who is already confirmed for The Everest, and In Secret in a Group 1 race last February. 
• #9 Hawaii Five Oh (10-1) is a large, late-developing, lightly raced four-year-old. 
• #10 Rocketing By (100-1), #11 Athelric (50-1) and #12 Casino Lord (200-1) are outclassed. 

The 7 Stakes Analysis

The Everest is just one of many innovations by the executives in charge of Sydney racing. The Shorts shares top billing on Friday night’s card with a new million-dollar race named the 7 Stakes. Sponsored by a national television network, the “7” (appropriately, Race 7) has drawn a terrific mix of top milers headed towards the Epsom H. (G1) on Sept. 29. (The number of individual Group 1 winners in the field is, yes, seven!) 

Godolphin’s newly turned four-year-old #8 Pericles (8-1) is 2-for-2 this campaign and currently equal favorite in future book wagering for the Epsom. #1 Think It Over (4-1) and #2 Zaaki (5-2) are older, well-established stars; and Chris Waller trains a trio of five-year-old mares. 

#9 Fangirl (2-1) spent last season in the shadow of now-retired Horse of the Year, Anamoe. She embraced the limelight when winning the first Group 1 race of the new Australian season, the Winx S., four weeks ago. (That victory offered a pleasing symmetry: it was the 150th Group 1 for Waller, who hit the 100-mark with Winx’s farewell race in 2019.) Sydney’s champion trainer will also saddle #11 Hinged (9-1) and #10 Going Global (20-1). The latter makes her third Australian start, having been purchased at a Kentucky auction last November for US$2.5 million. Going Global counts the Del Mar Oaks (G1) of 2021 among numerous California stakes wins, when trained by Phil D’Amato. 

The Randwick card will be broadcast live on TwinSpires this Friday night (first post 9:50 p.m. ET / 6:50 p.m. PT) alongside cards from Eagle Farm, Newcastle, and Belmont. Wagering is also available via TwinSpires. Fans can get free access to live-streaming, past performances, and expert picks on all races at skyracingworld.com. 

About Michael Wrona - A native of Brisbane, Australia, Michael Wrona has called races in six countries. Michael’s vast U.S. experience includes race calling at Los Alamitos, Hollywood Park, Arlington, and Santa Anita; calling the 2000 Preakness on a national radio network and the 2016 Breeders’ Cup on the International simulcast network. Michael also performed a race call voiceover for a Seinfeld episode called The Subway.