Shoals has firmed from $7.00 into the $5.50 favourite with Ladbrokes ahead of this afternoon’s $13 million The Everest (1200m) race.
With the track downgraded to a Heavy 9 this morning, Shoals’ proven track record in the wet has drawn the weight of money with the bookmaker, while last year’s winner Redzel has drifted from $6.50 out to $7.50.
Track update @royalrandwick
Track – Heavy 9
Penetrometer- 6.12
Rail- True
Irrigation last 24hrs – Nil
Irrigation last 7 days – Nil
Rainfall last 24hrs – 3mm
Rainfall last 7 days- 66.4mm. pic.twitter.com/lFcw5lzuAI— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 12, 2018
Shoals’ runner-up placing a fortnight ago in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick was encouraging from the three-time Group 1 winner. She ran the second fastest 400-200m time of the race, bursting out strongly from the gates to establish position alongside Saturday’s rival Redzel.
Barrier 2 will suit Shoals and jockey Tim Clark this weekend on the sticky surface, and after showing plenty last start from the outside part of the track, Anthony Freedman’s four-year old mare proved she is well up to this sprint trip against some of the world’s best.
As far as the wet track goes, Shoals hasn’t raced in the water since her August 21 trial at Cranbourne. She won the 800m trip narrowly over Angelic Sprint and fellow Everest runner Santa Ana Lane, but her wins on the soft in the Group 1 Sangster (1200m) and Surround Stakes (1400m) earlier this year were more than convincing.
With an inside run guaranteed on Saturday, Shoals has drawn the perfect gate to win this race on her preferred surface.
Full Everest odds can be seen below.
