It’s 2020 TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick this Saturday, October 17th, with the $15 million sprint quickly becoming one of Sydney’s biggest races of the year. Tim Geers brings us his preview of the big race below, but if you're looking for deeper analysis, then we highly recommend you check out our brand new website RacingBet.
We have a runner-by-runner preview of The Everest as well as analysis, tips, betting strategies, speed maps and odds comparisons for every race on the Randwick card!
The Everest 2020 Preview
Speed Map
(1) Nature Strip looks the obvious leader in the race from barrier 5, with (8) Eduardo set to join him from barrier 9. That should leave (9) Dollar For Dollar trailing behind them in the box seat, while (12) Haut Brion Her maps to get a good run on speed from barrier 3. It will be interesting to see the early tactics on (11) Libertini who draws widest of all in 11 – she risks being caught three-wide if they choose to go forward. (3) Classique Legend and (7) Gytrash should slot in midfield, along with (5) Behemoth from barrier 2. Godolphin’s (6) Bivouac draws tricky in 10 and will be looking to slot in three-wide with cover, with (10) Tofane drawn immediately to his outside likely to go back. (2) Trekking and (4) Santa Ana Lane are the two backmarkers in the field and will watch it all unfold.
Key Chances
There is a lot of uncertainty around (1) Nature Strip, who has been disappointing in his first two runs back from a spell, yet finds himself favourite here. He needs to jump cleanly and dictate the race from the front, but he’s had an interrupted prep and has made some uncharacteristic errors, so it’s hard for me to back him with confidence. However, he does fly third up from a spell with four wins from five starts, and Chris Waller will have him cherry ripe for his grand final today.
The big grey (3) Classique Legend is the horse I’m keen to be with. I just don’t see a situation where he’s not in the finish. He returned with a blistering win first up in the G2 The Shorts, followed by a brave run in defeat last start after sitting wide without cover. He should be able to get a good run from barrier 6 and with any luck, he looks very hard to beat.
(5) Behemoth comes here as a surprise packet having won back-to-back Group 1s in Victoria over 1400m. It’s a different form line and one that’s stood up well in recent weeks. Whether or not he’s an elite 1200m horse is the query but having that 1400m base will suit him in a hard-run 1200m at Randwick. Drawn well in barrier 2, with any luck I think he’ll be right in the finish and appears value at $9.50.
(7) Gytrash resumed with a bang at his first start in Sydney, taking the scalp of Nature Strip in the process. He’s been quietly going about his business since then, with a trial in between runs to keep him ticking over. He does his best racing fresh so it’s a deliberate tactic to have not raced again since that win in the Concorde. His best is certainly good enough to win this.
Perhaps still underrated is (11) Libertini, who couldn’t have been more impressive in the Premiere Stakes first up. That took her record at the track and distance to four wins from five starts. The big query today is barrier 12, as she won’t be getting the same dream run she received in that win last start. However, the $9.00 does look a touch over the odds.
Happy to take on Nature Strip here, with Classique Legend the top pick and Behemoth representing the most value.
Value: (5) Behemoth - $9.50
For more tips from every race this Saturday head over to RacingBet at www.racingbet.com.au
