OCTOBER will see the introduction of a unique annual racing feature which involves a $10 million race over 1200 metres, and slots are being purchased by local and international buyers – it’s The Everest, the richest turf race in the world over this sprint distance.
A joint venture devised and launched by Racing NSW (RNSW) and the Australian Turf Club (ATC), The Everest, scheduled for the Randwick program on Saturday, October 14, is open to local and international buyers who purchase a place or slot in the race at a price of $600,000 each.
Twelve slots are sold in The Everest through an expression of interest entitling the owner of the slot an entry in the race field. Slot owners can be syndicates, organisations, and/or investors who purchase a slot, and who do not have to actually own a racehorse, but can negotiate with a horse owner to do a deal in relation to splitting prize-money.
Owners of these slots will be able to trade their position or alternatively partner with owners not holding a slot to enter a horse in the final field for The Everest. Likewise, a slot holder who owns a horse can nominate their horse for The Everest, or slot holders can sell their slot to another party (subject to probity) at a price negotiated by them.
Run under weight-for-age conditions, The Everest, with prizemoney of $10 million, is a new exciting event during Sydney’s Spring Racing Carnival.
The prizemoney pool is to be fully funded from subscribers and additional revenues generated from the event. Prizemoney consists of: first $5.8 million; second $2.4 million; third $800,000; fourth $400,000; fifth $250,000; with sixth to 12 place to each receive $175,000.
While each slot costs the owner $600,000 per year, each runner is guaranteed $175,000 in prizemoney even for finishing last, therefore bringing down the initial cost to $425,000.
“Being a sprint over Royal Randwick’s testing 1200 metres circuit, The Everest is tailored to Australian racing,” said RNSW chief executive Peter V’landys.
ATC chief executive officer Darren Pearce said Sydney racing was going from strength to strength.
“The Everest furthers our goal to attract a global audience while providing Sydney with a massive drawcard in the spring.”
All 12 slots were filled by the end of March. According to RNSW, the future of the race has been secured with a broad range of slot holders having committed to participate in the race for the first three runnings through to 2019. These slot holders also have an option for The Everest in 2020.
Greg Ingham’s GPI Racing, represented by Sydney’s Andrew Williams Bloodstock, is one of the confirmed slot holders and a part-owner of outstanding sprinter Chautauqua, who brilliantly took his third consecutive T J Smith Stakes at The Championships in early April.
The grey Encosta de Lago gelding will be aiming toward The Everest in October.
Inglis also announced it has purchased a slot. Inglis has fielded for interest from owners and trainers – preferably via Inglis sold graduates, who may be looking toward having a horse competing in The Everest.
Prizemoney consists of: first $5.8 million; second $2.4 million; third $800,000; fourth $400,000; fifth $250,000; with sixth to 12 place to each receive $175,000. While each slot costs the owner $600,000 per year, each runner is guaranteed $175,000 in prizemoney even for finishing last, therefore bringing down the initial cost to $425,000.
Meanwhile, Golden Slipper-winning filly, She Will Reign, has been signalled to be among The Everest’s contenders.
Scott Darby, a principal of successful Sydney syndications Darby Racing, announced a deal has been struck with slot owner Yu Long Investments, for the $10 million October race.
“While the filly (She Will Reign) will still race in Darby’s silks, connections have agreed to a prizemoney split and the trophy will go to Yu Long if she wins the race,” a spokesperson for the syndicate said.
Providing the first Golden Slipper win for her Warwick Farm conditioner, Garry Portelli, She Will Reign was sent to the spelling paddock following her memorable group 1 victory in March, before her preparation for a spring three-year-old campaign.
A daughter of the Encosta de Lago Victorian-based sire Manhattan Rain, She Will Reign will carry 51 kilograms under the Australian racing weight-for-age scale.
Rewards for Desert Lashes
A RAG to riches story has developed around an Alice Springs trained galloper, Desert Lashes, who has measured up to black type racing when recently taking the Listed SAJC Redelva Stakes for three-year-olds at Morphettville, South Australia.
Costing her owners just $2100 at the Inglis conducted Red Centre Yearling Sale in May 2015, Desert Lashes has won all of her eight starts, her first five at Pioneer Park, Alice Springs, Northern Territory, followed by three in Adelaide and has now earned $236,000.
The speedy filly is by leading young Victorian sire, Reward For Effort, by Exceed and Excel, which stands at Chatswood Stud, Seymour. A leading Australian second season sire for group winners earnings, Rewards For Effort, has sired three stakes winners.