The Everest, $15,000,000, 1200m
The fifth running of this rich and well promoted contest has attracted a quality lineup of sprinters including the recently crowned 2020/21 Australian Champion Sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) who is having his third crack at this race.
Seventh last year off an unplaced G2 Premiere S. run and fourth the year before off a G1 Moir S. victory, the bold chestnut comes into this year's running in good form though barrier 10 provides him with a test of his early pace.
Honest performer Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) also lines up for his third The Everest, finishing third to Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) in 2019 and fourth last year.
Last year's The Everest hero Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) has raced just the once since, failing to really settle in during a Hong Kong stint. He has been in stellar form at the trials and is attempting to do a Redzel (Snitzel) by winning this event twice.
Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was in the thick of things when resuming in the G2 The Shorts and he was also second-up when finishing a game third in this race last year. Libertini (I Am Invincible) and Eduardo (Host {Chi}) also back up from last year - the former finishing eighth and the latter 11th. Libertini had won the G2 Premiere S. in the lead up but is first-up this time around whilst Eduardo was second in the G2 The Shorts twelve months ago, winning it this time around.
With the pace likely to be strong the up-and-comer Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) will be finishing off strongly whilst the G1 Moir S. form must also be respected; that dash quinellaed by Wild Ruler (Snitzel) and former Singapore star The Inferno (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}). Meanwhile Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) is attempting to do a Yes Yes Yes by winning this at three.
The Kosciuszko, $1,300,000, 1200m
Brett Cavanough is hoping that lightning will strike twice, winning this rich contest last year with It's Me (Shamus Award). This time his representative is the consistent Patino Ruby (More Than Ready {USA}) whose dam is the Group 1 mare Commanding Jewel (Commands).
Top-weight Handle The Truth (Star Witness) enjoys a class drop on the back of two encouraging efforts this time in whilst Front Page (Magnus) is looking to hold up the strong Melbourne Lombardo (I Am Invincible) form.
Spiranac (Magic Albert) proved a class above his rivals last time out and Edit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) is also coming off a barnstorming victory. His trainer Cody Morgan has two runners, the other being Ice In Vancouver (Vancouver) who is first up having won half of his six starts to date.
Meanwhile Sunrise Ruby (Casino Prince) did not have a great deal of luck last time out and she just doesn't know how to run a bad race.
G3 Craven Plate, $750,000, 2000m
Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) is attempting to become the first horse since Yippyio (Interstellar {NZ}) to win this race twice and the first since Hayai (NZ) (Skyhawk {GB}) to win it in consecutive years. And he looks a big chance to do so, racing in much better form than he was in the lead-up last year.
Nicely primed fourth-up, Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) can prove hard to run down whilst the Japanese galloper Keiai Nautique (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) can settle closer from the inside gate.
Hungry Heart (Frankel {GB}) has another tricky gate to contend with but looks ready for the 2000m having done her best work late in the G1 Epsom H.
G3 Sydney Stakes, $500,000, 1200m
Kementari (Lonhro) was tough to the line taking out the G2 Gilgai S. at Flemington first-up and punters will be hoping he can, for the first time since the summer/autumn of 2018, put a couple of wins together.
Exceed And Excel's pair Signore Fox and Standout are leading chances; the former boasting excellent first-up form - resuming off very good trial form - whilst the latter was gutsy behind Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) in the G2 Premiere S. last time out.
Deep Field is well represented here with four of the 12 runners; Chat back in trip having been close up in the G2 Shannon S., Big Parade up in class off a nice win at Randwick, Luvoir first-up off a consistent autumn/winter campaign and Fiteuse looking to enhance her already impressive strike rate.
Listed Reginald Allen Quality, $140,000, 1400m
The well related Fangirl (a Sebring granddaughter of Special Harmony) is up in grade but could not have been more impressive racing away to a very easy maiden victory at just her third outing.
She is one of the five Chris Waller-trained runners here, the others being Hoover Lucy (No Nay Never {USA}) who led throughout to break her maiden last time out, Roots (Press Statement) who looked good saluting at debut, Headliner (Star Turn) who was luckless when resuming and Mystic Mermaid (Fastnet Rock) who tackles black-type at just her second outing.
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have two runners, the topweight Decent Raine (Dissident) who was unlucky not to win the G3 Champagne S. last time out and I Am Me (I Am Invincible) who has been placed at her first couple in easier company.
Picarones (Shooting To Win) strips fitter for the last couple of runs and is never far away.
