Racing NSW is expecting October's Everest to be Sydney's biggest betting race of the year, with lotto-like jackpots for punters to chase that will fuel an ever-increasing prizemoney pool that is tipped to balloon from $10 million to $15 million and then even $20 million in coming years.
The Everest has the racing world talking, with up to a dozen international sprinters wanting to be considered for a slot. It is an amazing response for a race that will go from concept to racetrack in under 10 months.
Coolmore's trainer Aidan O'Brien said Caravaggio was still "a definite possibility", despite tasting defeat for the first time in the July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday when fourth to Harry Angel. The fact that one of the first questions winning trainer Clive Cox asked was about the Everest shows the standing of the event already, although he did indicate there were other races on his mind.
The interest is set to be converted into betting and commercial opportunities, which will be funnelled back into the race. The vision is to take it from the world's richest turf race to the world's richest race.
The concept of a slot race is a first in Australia and there are plans for punters to be challenged with new exotic bet types around the Everest not seen in the world before.
While the horses are running for a $5 million first prize, there could be million-dollar jackpots for punters to target as well.
The Everest meeting will include Winx in the Craven Plate and also the St Leger, so that should attract the best horses to Randwick as a support to the $10 million sprinting showcase.
It will be a focal point for racing and punting in the Sydney spring.
Any money the race meeting generates above the standard meeting is set to pushed back into the Everest to make it more financially attractive for those who have invested in the concept.
Programming changes
The programming changes announced last week with a prizemoney boost for the Sydney spring will mean the raceday reappearances of topliners will be delayed by a couple of weeks.
Superstar Winx is set to have her first start in the Warwick Stakes at Randwick on August 19, and trainer Chris Waller will want her to have a couple of barrier trials before that. If he follows his usual pattern, they are likely to be at Randwick on July 24 and August 8.
The three-year-olds are coming back through the trials at the moment and Peter Snowden is in a difficult position with Blue Diamond runner-up Pariah, which won a Randwick trial last week.
"I just wish I knew that the Golden Rose was going back a couple of weeks because he would have waited for another couple of weeks to have that trial," Snowden said. "We will wait for another month for his next trial to get the timing right for the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, which are his targets."
Collett rides smart
Those punters who backed Vaucluse Bay on Saturday should be thanking Jason Collett.
It was a smart ride coming into the straight, just behind the speed, but it was shortly after the turn where Collett really earned his money.
He went to come off Samadoubt's back at the 400m mark but Samadoubt stepped out, putting Vaucluse Bay on his heels.
Awkwardly placed, Collett checked and got to the outside. For the next 100m, he got his horse balanced again before he pulled the whip through at around the 250m. It was where the race was won.
He didn't panic even though he was still four lengths off leader Arbeitsam and he was able to run it down in the shadows of the post.
Carlton returns
Veteran steward Tom Carlton has rejoined the Sydney panel to fill a shortfall in its ranks on racedays.
Carlton has more than 40 years' experience at the Australian Jockey Club before taking a role on the Racing NSW Appeals panel.
He has returned to Marc Van Gestel's panel, which is down on numbers, as it continues to search for fulltime replacements for stewards that move to other jurisdictions.
The latest is Tom Moxon, who has taken a job on the Racing Victoria stewards panel, his role will be advertised this week.
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