Confirmation that the Aidan O’Brien-trained Irish sprinter Caravaggio will fill the slot for Coolmore in the world’s newest and richest turf race has seen The Everest 2017 odds firm on the up-and-comer ahead of the Sydney feature this October.
Chautauqua is clear favourite in 2017 The Everest betting online ahead of the $10 million Restricted feature at Randwick this October. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Tom Magnier from Coolmore Australia told Sky Sports Radio this week that the powerhouse racing stable had O’Brien’s undefeated European three-year-old Caravaggio as their first priority to fill their pre-purchased position in the $10 million The Everest (1200m).
“We took a slot in The Everest and we have had Caravaggio in mind for our slot for a while,” Magnier, who also has a part-share in the sprint sensation, said.
“The plan at the moment is to give him a light summer preparation over here and aim for down there.
“Caravaggio is very exciting. He is a horse that has been improving all the time.
“Aidan [O’Brien] has had some good horses but he says this is the fastest horse he has trained and the colt backed that up at Royal Ascot.”
The Restricted weight-for-age classic runs at Royal Randwick on Saturday October 14 and a spot in the field comes at a cost of $600,000 for connections.
Current The Everest odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have Team Hawkes’ triple TJ Smith Stakes winner Chautauqua as the $4.80 favourite.
Last start winner of the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup (1207m) at Ascot this week, the flying Caravaggio has now firmed into the $7 second elect in futures The Everest betting.
By the time The Everest is run this Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, Caravaggio will be four-years-old and race in Australia as a five-year-old.
He has won all six of his career starts to date and is expected to attempt for a seventh from as many runs next-up in the Group 1 July Cup (1207m) at Newmarket in England this July.
The Everest field has a 12-horse capacity and along with Chautauqua other confirmed runners in the inaugural edition of the controversial event include Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, Gold Coast-trained Magic Millions 2YO Classic champ Houtzen and Matthew Dale’s luckless Group 1 placegetter Fell Swoop.
Along with Caravaggio, the other Royal Ascot winner that could potentially head down under for The Everest is Wesley Ward’s Lady Aurelia.
The impressive American-trained filly easily accounted for Profitable (2nd) with her three length win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1005m).
Without a confirmed connection or slot in the field however, Lady Aurelia is at $11 in The Everest race markets.
Check out the full all-in The Everest 2017 odds online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
