Everest barrier draw

The TAB Everest draw has been decided and is as follows;

Barrier 1 - Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), Barrier 2 - Behemoth (All Too Hard), Barrier 3 - Haut Brion Her (Zoustar), Barrier 4 - Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}), Barrier 5 - Nature Strip (Nicconi), Barrier 6 - Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), Barrier 8 - Santa Ana Lane (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Barrier 9 - Eduardo (Host {Chi}), Barrier 10 - Bivouac (Exceed And Excel), Barrier 11 - Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Barrier 12 - Libertini (I Am Invincible).

Anders ready for race of tactics

Co-trainer David Eustace is not treating the G3 Blue Sapphire S. as a track gallop for Anders (Not A Single Doubt) despite the flying colt having only two other horses as opposition.

Eustace said he was approaching the race at Caulfield on Wednesday with confidence but he respected the other two runners, Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}) and Ranting (NZ) (Zoustar).

"Hanseatic's a good horse and Ranting's an improving, talented galloper," Eustace said.

Speaking on RSN Radio on Tuesday, Eustace said they won't be making any changes to Anders' front-running racing style.

"With only three runners it becomes very tactical. He's got great gate speed and gets into stride quickly, so we have every intention to lead," Eustace said.

"It won't be a track gallop by any means, but we go into the race with confidence.”

Grandslam entered for Cox Plate

After finishing third in Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas, co-trainer David Eustace confirmed Grandslam (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is a late entry for the G1 Cox Plate.

"He is a colt, he's going to have a very light weight. He rolled along well in the Guineas out in front, which is a tactic he can use again with that low weight if he draws well enough," Eustace said.

"You are only going to get one crack at a Cox Plate with that sort of weight on your back.

"The boss said straight away after the race that he'd love to have a look at the Cox Plate, made the enquiries on Sunday and Monday and we've got the inclination he'd be considered for it.

"He has made drastic improvement this prep and we think he will improve again fourth-up."

The Moonee Valley Racing Club board will select the final field next Tuesday morning ahead of the race on Saturday week.

Trusty blow by filly

Trust In A Gust was represented by his first winner when the Swettenham Stud stallion’s daughter Wit was successful at Kyneton on Tuesday.

Trained by Rod Symons, the 3-year-old was on debut over 1118 metres and finished resolutely in the hands of Fred Kersley to score by 0.75l.

Trust In A Gust won the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the G1 Toorak H. before his retirement to Swettenham and Wit was the 10th race day representative. She is from the family of the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Round The World (NZ) (Sea Anchor {Ire}).

Everest spot rejected

Troy Corstens has confirmed that offers came for Swat’s That (Shamus Award) to take a slot in The Everest but they were quickly rejected with the G1 Coolmore Stud S. her main target race.

“We got offered an Everest slot but we knocked it back,” Corstens told Racing.com.

“It’s an afterthought and we’ve set her for the Coolmore the whole way along and I just think that afterthoughts don’t work well when you’ve got young horses.

“I want to keep my eyes on the prize which is the Coolmore and hopefully we can run in The Everest next year if she’s good enough.

“She came through the weekend really well, I’m pleased with her.”

Waller happy with Everest pair

Chris Waller's Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) had their final hitouts for The Everest on Tuesday.

The trainer is confident he has the 6-year-old gelding Nature Strip exactly where he needs to be for his grand final this weekend at Randwick.

"We know that we've got a very good horse," Waller said.

"We've just got to try and get him to the same place that he's been when he's been running these high ratings, enough to put his ratings up with the best horses in the world.

"I'm going into Saturday's race fairly confident that he can run up to his best form."

Waller's other Everest hopeful, Haut Brion Her, also impressed hoop Brenton Avdulla with her work on the course proper.

Waller confident in Cup trio

Chris Waller is also pleased with the progression of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}), Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Toffee Tongue (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) ahead of their tilt at the G1 Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

"It's obviously a very tricky race," Waller said. "We've had chances over the years, but we've never got close enough to say that we should have won it, so it is one of those races at the moment for me.

"It's a great race itself and it's also a semi-final to the big one in a couple of weeks' time. It's a race we'd clearly love to win and I'd have to say it most probably is (our best chance yet).”

Livamol test

Group 1 winner Tiptronic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) bypassed the first two legs of the Hawke’s Bay spring carnival and trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall are hoping a less travelled path will benefit him at Hastings on Saturday.

The 7-year-old will line-up in the G1 Livamol Classic after carrying big weights in his three lead-up runs.

“I intended not to go down for the G1 Windsor Park Plate because I thought it would be a hard race for him and it was a hard race for a lot of them,” Richardson said. “Hopefully I have done the right thing.

“Last start he had 63kg on his back. The horse who won carried 9kg less than him and the second horse wasn’t too far behind.

“He was less than 2l from the winner. I was very happy and Chad (Ormsby, jockey) was really happy with his run.”

Reliable Man returns to Gestut Rottgen

Group 1 sire Reliable Man (GB) will return to Gestut Rottgen for the 2021 covering season, the German stud announced on Monday.

The grey spent his first four years there, before standing for three years in France, a year at Haras du Thenney and two at Haras d’Annebault.

A fee for the 12-year-old, who also shuttles to Westbury Stud in New Zealand, will be announced later.

“‘We look forward to welcoming Reliable Man back to Röttgen,” stud manager Frank Dorff commented. “We shall certainly continue to support him with some of our best mares. In his first three years here we bred three Group winners and a Listed winner from only 13 foals.

“He consistently produces good looking, correct horses and they are able to run at two and then compete in the best races from 2000 metres to 2400 metres at three.”