Highly rated three year old Menari will be trainer Gerald Ryan’s second runner in the 2018 version of the $13m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 13.

Ryan’s multiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist will run in the slot owned by Aquis and now he will be joined by his stablemate Menari who has been secured to run for slot holder Max Whitby.

The Lindsay Park trained Vega Magic performed well for Whitby last year in the inaugural running of The Everest and beat all by Redzel in collecting the runner’s cheque.

Whitby also could have selected Vega Magic again but has decided to go with the Gerald Ryan trained Menari who is set to resume for the 2018 Spring Carnival in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 1.

“We were keen to get a fresh, new horse this year and not go back to the well,’’ Whitby told the Racing NSW News Desk.

“That’s with great respect to Vega Magic and Redzel and the like. It’s a clean slate and we are confident he is the right horse.

“It would have been great to see him have a run but this race is all about taking the opportunities.’’

It will be almost twelve months in between runs when Menari steps out in the Concorde Stakes as a four year old after having recovered from a throat operation following his third to Trapeze Artist in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last September.

Menari was sent out as the $2.40 favourite for the Golden Rose but could only finish third behind his $41 longshot stablemate Trapeze Artist.

Ryan put the defeat down to a wind problem but he is confident that the Snitzel colt has overcome the set back and has pleased the high profile trainer in his Spring Carnival preparation so far.

“Trapeze Artist was too good that day but Menari had a little wind problem and in a fast-run race where he couldn’t relax properly over 1400m, he probably just ran out of air,’’ Ryan told The Daily Telegraph.

“But he has had an operation and is very good now. He looks magnificent — he’s big and strong.

“I will trial him in a month, then he will have another trial before he resumes in the Concorde Stakes. He will then go to The Shorts and hopefully will line up in The Everest.”

The Group 2 $200,000 The Shorts (1100m) at Randwick on September 15 will be Menari’s second up run in preparation for The Everest.

Menari is now listed a $12 chance for The Everest with Ladbrokes.com.au and will line up against his multiple Group 1 winning stablemate Trapeze Artist who heads the market order at $4.50.

Trapeze Artist was one of the stars of the 2018 Sydney Autumn Carnival with two Group 1 wins at Randwick in the $2.5m Darley T J Smith Stakes (1200m) on April 7 and in the $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m) a fortnight later.

Menari is the ninth sprinter to secure a slot for the 2018 The Everest and as well as Trapeze Artist (Aquis, slot holder), will join seven other confirmed starters for the second running of the world’s richest sprint race on turf, In Her Time (TAB), Redzel (Yulong Investments), Brave Smash (Chris Waller Racing), Shoals (The Star), English (Damion Flower) and Santa Ana Lane (Inglis), U S Navy Flag (Coolmore).

Early betting for the 2018 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.50 Trapeze Artist, $6 Redzel, $9 U S Navy Flag, $10 In Her Time, Santa Ana Lane, $12 Kementari, Menari, $14 Shoals, $16 Vega Magic, Nature Strip, $18 English, Brave Smash, Chautauqua, $21 Winx, $26 Blue Point, Harry Angel, Menari, Redkirk Warrior, $31 Equilateral, Happy Clapper, Prized Icon, $34 Alizee, Estijaab, Le Romain, Viddora, $41 Hot King Prawn, Invincible Star, $51 or better the rest.