McEvoy aiming for fourth The Everest
Kerrin McEvoy is the only jockey to have three wins in The Everest, winning the first two in 2017 and 2018 on Redzel (Snitzel), then adding another in 2020 on Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt). He rides Headwall (Dream Ahead {USA}) this year and next week he will become the only jockey to have ridden in all 10 versions of the race.
Kerrin McEvoy | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“For someone that's been in the sport for as long as I have, it's mind boggling to think that within 10 years, a newly introduced race would rival a race that's an institution in the greatest sport loving country in the world,” McEvoy told racenet.com.au.
“People in Sydney still have a bet on the Melbourne Cup but The Everest is now the most written about and discussed race in the country, not just NSW, and Sydney racegoers have supported it like nothing I've seen since I moved to Sydney almost 20 years ago.
“(Headwall) is a horse with an electric turn of foot if the race sets up well for him. I'd assess him off his performance two runs back when he went with Tempted in the Concorde and he was in traffic, not storming down the outside.
“His best is good enough to run very well in an Everest, he's a genuine top five chance and he's performed well on rain-affected ground. That's the unknown with Ka Ying Rising so I'll be praying for rain leading up to the race.”
Listed Seymour Cup won by Wymark
Gavin Bedggood-trained Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) continued to show his propensity for country cups with victory in Sunday’s Listed Seymour Cup. He won the Stawell Gold Cup and Yarra Valley Cup over the winter before two other starts ahead of Sunday’s victory. He won the 2024 G2 Tulloch Stakes as a younger horse.
“He’s actually been Kingswood’s gallop partner for the last few weeks, and we thought his work at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning was every bit as good as his, but I still thought he was one run away. That will have him peaking for that 1800-metre race on Melbourne Cup Day,” Bedgood told racing.com.
“He won a Saturday race at Caulfield, he won Yarra Valley Cup, he won a Stawell Cup, and now he’s won a Seymour Cup. He’s been a great money-spinner for connections, and he’ll probably end up at the Magic Millions (in January) like last year.”
Initially a $200,000 yearling purchase in 2022, Wymark was bought by Gavin Bedggood for $32,500 at the October 2025 Inglis Digital Sale. He is bred on the prolific Savabeel / O’Reilly (NZ) cross being out of unraced Pasadena (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Stablemate and Group 1 winner Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) runs in the G1 Caulfield Cup.
Cox Plate focus for Aeliana
Chris Waller has expressed his concern at the weight given to Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) for the G1 Melbourne Cup and will keep to a G1 Cox Plate pathway.
“It’s not our intention to run,” Waller told racing.com.
Aeliana (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve never said that she would definitely run and I still can’t really get my head around it (Aeliana’s Melbourne Cup weight). She’s unlikely. The Cox Plate is our focus at this stage. We are not keen on it (Melbourne Cup) at the moment.”
First stakes winner for Long Leaf
Saturday evening’s Listed Max Simmonds Stakes at Ascot was won by 3-year-old gelding Big Red Zoom (Long Leaf). Having his second start, he remains unbeaten for trainer Mitchell Pateman.
He is the first stakes winner for Long Leaf, a son of Fastnet Rock, who retired to stud in Western Australia in 2020 and has recently relocated to Victoria’s Grassdale Pastoral in Gippsland. Big Red Zoom is the fourth foal and fourth winner for unraced Sister Zoe (My Admiration).
Playing God had a double at the meeting with Reginetta and God’s Gate.
Flight Stakes-placed De Armas heads to Guineas
Trainer Chris Waller is happy with OTI-owned 3-year-old filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) who comes off a last start second in the G1 Flight Stakes ahead of the G1 Thousand Guineas.
“She's only had two starts in Australia. Went from 1200 metres straight to a mile,” Waller told racenet.com.au.
De Armas (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
She was a Listed winner at two in New Zealand before heading over to Waller for her 3-year-old campaign.
Yellow Brick heads to Sydney
Co-trainer Maddysen Sears says Yellow Brick (The Mission) is ready to take on the G2 Sydney Stakes on Everest day.
“He's a very naturally fit horse and dad (Tony) and I know exactly where he is at and when he's ready to fire,” Sears told racenet.com.au.
Yellow Brick | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
“Ange (Jones) knows Yellow Brick exceptionally well and she said that was probably the best he's ever felt. And we think he's probably going every bit as good as he has previously, too. We're happy with how he trialled. He's really good and has come through it super.”
Youngberry cleared of serious injury
Apprentice jockey Bella Youngberry was transported to hospital after a pre-race fall at Eagle Farm on Saturday, but was given the all-clear on Sunday.
“From what I gather, her telling me that the horse shied, spun around really quick and I think she got dislodged to the side and maybe her foot got stuck in the stirrup a little bit at first,” her father Garry told racenet.com.au on Sunday.
“She went under the horse… so whether she got stood on or kicked, and it must have landed on her head I'd say. She remembers it all, she wasn't unconscious or anything like that. When you do hurt your neck like that, it gets inflamed and sore pretty quick as well so a credit to the medical staff for taking those precautions.
“There's certainly no deterrent from her as well, it hasn't affected her confidence in any way. She's all sweet, she'll be eager to be back as soon as she can get a clearance.”
New Zealand’s Group 3 abandoned
The G3 Rotorua Stakes was abandoned on Monday with the meeting called off after race three. Warren Kennedy-ridden Sovrana (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) slipped after the post, when second, while free from interference and after an inspection of the track, stewards deemed it unsafe to continue. Sovrana was uninjured and the race was won by Yulong-owned 3-year-old colt Concurrence (Tagaloa).
Drumbeat begins Wootton Bassett’s big day
It was a case of business as usual in Newmarket's G3 Native Trail Zetland Stakes on Saturday, with Ballydoyle's Drumbeat (Wootton Bassett) dominating proceedings in the style of a live Derby prospect.
“He had a lovely run the last day and he has plenty of class–he could be a very classy middle-distance horse next year,” Aidan O'Brien said. “He travelled very easily through the race and the time was fast. I always thought this trip would suit and the horse who beat him the last day is a fair horse, I would say–he worked very well this morning and is going to the Futurity Trophy.”
“He's a mile-and-a-quarter, mile-and-a-half horse and has pace,” he added of the winner. “He could go to Saint-Cloud for the mile or mile-and-a-quarter Group 1s and next year he'll start in a Derby trial. I think this lad was more impressive than Pierre Bonnard in this last year.”
Wootton Bassett still king in Europe
Prince Faisal's €200,000 (AU$321,000) Arqana August acquisition Al Hamaad (Wootton Bassett) provided quick relief for his sire, just minutes after Sergei Diaghilev endured a narrow reversal at Newmarket, and outclassed his five opponents in some style with a powerful performance in Saturday's G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffitte at Chantilly.
Wootton Bassett was on the mark earlier when Drumbeat lowered Newmarket's juvenile track record and became his 65th Group winner in the G3 Zetland.
“He is by the right stallion, he is with the right trainer, he is a fantastic mover and he has a very bright future indeed,” said Oisin Murphy. “I hope he goes right to the top.”
Racing manager Ted Voute added, “He was drawn outside first time out and beaten into second. He then showed an exceptional turn of foot in his second race and that made us think we might have the profile of a good horse. It was only a maiden and this was a big step up to Group 2 company. He's jumped several levels at once and and he's cleared those hurdles with flying colours. The 2-year-old fillies are better than the colts, over six furlongs in England, so it's good that he beat one of those good fillies so easily.”
Millionaire Rock Montreal adds Group 3 win
Godolphin's Roger Varian-conditioned Book 1 millionaire Rock Montreal (Blue Point), second to G1 Fillies' Mile third Forbidden Fire in Doncaster's Listed Flying Scotsman when last seen, found the willpower to claim a well-earned career high in Saturday's G3 Emirates Autumn Stakes at Newmarket.
“We brought him up here for a racecourse gallop as we just had to do a little bit more with him after Doncaster and I'm glad we did that,” revealed Varian. “I thought he did really well today and he had to do it the hard way. There wasn't really much taking him into the final quarter. He came off the bridle early and I'm really pleased how he responded. He was there when William needed him and showed toughness when he had to be tough.
“I'm glad we ran over the mile, rather than the seven-furlong Dewhurst, and he's a lovely horse to look forward to. He has a very laid-back temperament with a great attitude and he doesn't overexert himself, which is kind of how you like them really. He did come off the bridle earlier than I thought he might and everything he did off the bridle was impressive. Although it was only a neck, I thought he was going away and it was a very good performance.”
Third Coast wins G3 Hill Princes Stakes on turf
He was patiently handled off the flank of a wild longshot, and with a well-timed rally, Third Coast (Uncle Mo) got first jump on the late-charging betting choice to win the G3 Hill Prince Stakes at Belmont Park.
“[The trip was] perfect,” said trainer Tom Proctor, who had two wins on the day counting the turf feature on the card. “Any time a horse can get around that first turn, second–he had a pretty easy trip.”
