In Australia there's a race called The Everest, it's a WFA, 1200m event, run this year in Sydney on October 17. The race is worth AU$15,000,000 and is restricted to just 12 horses. The odd thing about the race though, is that owners and trainers can't nominate and expect to get a start in the race, because the 12 "slots" are all held by investors who bought them for $600,000 a piece. So to get a place in the field, owners and trainers are extra keen to impress the slot owners, and the best way to do that is on the track. Once they get their heads together and sort out a deal that suits both parties, a horse is awarded a slot. Of course the holders have all the power so a lot of wooing takes place. As things stand at the moment, none of the holders have fully committed to a horse. They usually wait until a week or two out before things begin to really heat up. And then the holders begin to panic. All want to enlist the services of the better prospects, nobody wants to miss the boat. The 12 slot holders. Aquis. (A stud.) Boniface Ho. (Hong Kong owner.) Chris Waller Racing. Coolmore. MiEverest. (A Micro Ownership Group) Inglis. (Bloodstock Auction House.) James Harron. (Bloodstock Agent.) Max Whitby & Neil Werret. (Multi G1 winning owners.) TAB. The Star. (The Star Entertainment Group.) Yulong Investments. ( Mr Yuesheng Zhang, Chinese owner of 3 Australian Studs.) Godolphin. Yesterday some of the owners had the chance to try and impress the slot holders. No 3, Grey horse, white and maroon. 3 from the outside.
Won't they all want to nominate the best horse? How do they sort that out? Does the nominator get a % of the prize money? Or does their return depend on the deal they have made with the owner (presumably they demand a minimum of $600,000 from the owners. How much does last place pay?
2020 The Everest Prize Money The Everest is now the richest turf race in the world with $15 million in total prize money on offer. Prize money in The Everest race is paid down to 12th giving all runners in the field a share in the stakes. A horse in The Everest results would need to run fifth to pay back the $600,000 entry fee for connections. 1st: $6,200,000 2nd: $2,400,000 3rd: $1,300,000 4th: $1,000,000 5th: $750,000 6th: $500,000 7th: $450,000 8th: $450,000 9th: $450,000 10th: $450,000 11th: $450,000 12th: $450,000 Read more: http://www.races.com.au/races/special-condition-races/the-everest
The slot holders identify a horse Ron, they then do a prizemoney split deal with the horse’s owners and trainers, sign a contract and then they’re in the game.
First in, best dressed Ron. If a slot holder spots a live chance from anywhere in the country, or even over seas I think, he can get in fast and secure the horse. If he takes his time, he risks losing the horse to another slot holder. None of the slots have been officially nominated for the race as yet, but I think all of them have already been tied up. Of course if something goes amiss with the animal, then it's back to square one, which wouldn't be good news as most of the hot chance may have already been booked. The slot holders have the option of selecting any horse they fancy. It's then up to whether the owners and slot holders can come to terms. It would have been nice to see Baatash offered a slot, wouldn't it?
Nature Strip shipped James McDonald in a barrier trial last night, not ideal but shouldn't really be an issue with the race still a while away.
The stewards are making him run another barrier trial before his next race, 1.01 its a freak one off. Waller will have to find another barrier trial for Nature Strip before he goes to the races but is likely to stick the plan of running the $3.50 Everest favourite in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on October 3. "For public confidence, we need to see him at the barrier trials again after losing his rider. Although it was uncharacteristic for him, it is best to see him back at the trials before he races again," Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said. "He could have bolted around the track but, fortunately, he was pretty sensible. When he saw Stuart, he just stopped really, which was a relief," Waller said. "It was far from ideal, and I fully understand them wanting to see him at the barrier trials again. We know it is a once-off but, to protect the punters, he needs to go through the barriers again and do things right. "He will trial and then it will be full steam ahead to the Premiere Stakes and The Everest."
Stick, a stud called Aquis will be trying to further promote their colt Farnan. The horse won the Golden Slipper last season so a win in The Everest will do wonders for his profile as a future stallion. As you suggested, Coolmore and Godolphin will probably do the same.
The top 2 in the market face off at Randwick on Saturday, Nature Strip 8/11 and Classique Legend 9/4, an impressive win for either would see them pretty short I think. Im not really seeing it with Classique Legend tbh, dont think hes the same class as Nature Strip and provided the stall antics were a blip, I expect Nature Strip to win quite comfortably.
