Co-trainer Adrian Bott believes the presence of four three-year-olds adds intrigue into what is shaping as a wide open The Everest at Randwick on Saturday.
Bott and Gai Waterhouse are yet to win an Everest and this year their stable’s hopes rest with three-year-old colt Storm Boy and three-year-old filly Lady Of Camelot.
Joining them in the elite 12-horse line up is the James Cummings-trained colt Traffic Warden and Ciaron Maher-trained colt Growing Empire, making it the most number of three-year-olds to ever have contested an Everest.
Storm Boy was confirmed early this week to run in the slot of Coolmore Stud and Bott says the high-profile colt has freshened well since his fourth placing in the Golden Rose.
“I think it’s an open race and it’s intriguing with the presence of the three-year-olds,” Bott said, when assessing Storm Boy’s Everest hopes.
“I think he (Storm Boy) is every bit as good as all those three-year-olds that are taking their place.
“He certainly deserves his spot there.
“He’ll make his presence felt and if the three-year-olds are up to it and can take on the older horses at this stage – which they’ve proven they can in this particular race – then yeah, he’s right in the mix.
“We just need a few things to go his way. A nice clean break, some good weather on the day I think will be relatively key as well.”
Two three-year-olds have won The Everest in its seven previous runnings, with colt Yes Yes Yes successful in 2019 and gelding Giga Kick winning two years ago.
This year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot will be the first three-year-old filly to contest an Everest since three fillies – Tulip, Houtzen and She Will Reign – all ran in the first edition of the race in 2017.
Lady Of Camelot is the outsider of the field in betting markets but Bott is certainly not discounting her.
“She’s going better than what the market will suggest,” Bott said.
“Her first-up run at weight-for-age was excellent when she stuck on great in the Moir.
“She’s had a bit of time to build towards this and she looks the best she has.”
Storm Boy, to be ridden by Brenton Avdulla, has barrier five while Rachel King has the ride on Lady Of Camelot from the second widest barrier.
“Storm Boy’s got tactical speed,” Bott said.
“I know his gate speed itself has been a little bit questioned previously but I thought he’s shown good improvement in that.
“He musters really well and I think he can take advantage of it from that draw.
“Lady Of Camelot is a little bit more versatile but at the same time she might need to use a bit of speed to offset that draw, she could end up in an awkward position otherwise.
“So she’s most likely to press forward as well.”
Sixth placings to both English (2017) and Hawaii Five Oh (2023) have been the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s best Everest results from four previous runners in the race.