Anders still an Everest possibility as Farnan secures slot
The confirmation yesterday that Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) would chase the $15 million The Everest (1200m) in the Aquis Farm slot has not ruled out the prospect that the operation’s smart three-year-old Anders (Not A Single Doubt) could also scale the mountain that is the world’s richest race on turf.
Aquis Farm announced that the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Farnan, who was purchased by the Tony Fung-owned operation in conjunction with Phoenix Thoroughbreds as a yearling and has since been acquired by Kia Ora Stud as a stallion prospect, would fill their slot as they attempt to win the Randwick feature for the first time.
In the first three Everests, they were represented by Houtzen (I Am Invincible), seventh in 2017; Trapeze Artist (Snitzel), runner-up in 2018; and Pierata (Pierro), fifth last year.
“It’s a dream come true from an Aquis perspective because we’ve been part of the Everest journey and to race a colt in our slot who we bought as a yearling and who we’ve then been able to partner with Kia Ora and Phoenix, to take him on the journey through to The Everest is quite exciting,” Aquis Farm managing director Shane McGrath said.
“It’s got everyone excited and there’s no one better than Gai and Adrian to get a horse ready for 1200 metres at Randwick. It’s on his home track and being a three-year-old he’s going to get every opportunity at the weights.”
The announcement that Farnan would miss the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) and head directly to The Everest came days after last season’s top two-year-old finished a tiring fifth first-up in The Run To The Rose (Gr 2, 1200m).
Rider, Hugh Bowman, was subsequently – and controversially – suspended for 20 days, with stewards finding him guilty on a “running and handling” charge in that he had led at too fast a tempo.
Like most, McGrath is willing to forgive Farnan for that performance and believes that the “real” Farnan will stand up in The Everest. However, Bowman will not be aboard, with the jockey unable to make the 53-kilogram weight.
“If you speak to any racing pundit about the race or the ratings, you have just got to put a line through last Saturday,” McGrath said. “The reality is, the sun still came up on Sunday and racing is still going on. We look forward, not back, and I’m sure a lot of us in life, if we had our time over, there’s a lot we would have done differently and jockeys are no different. At the end of the day, it’s easy to be a grandstand jockey, so we’ll just move on. However, he will require a new jockey with the light weight.
“I spoke to Adrian and he said that Farnan had a couple of easy days. He did a nice piece of work on Thursday. He’s got a remarkable constitution, a great eater with a lovely temperament. I think he’ll be primed to run the race of his life. You have got to put a flag in the ground for what your grand final is in each prep.
“From an Aquis slot holder’s perspective and the owners of Farnan, principally Mr Krishnan, they are happy to partner with us to have a crack at The Everest. The race hasn’t been around a long time, but it’s fast become the iconic sprinting race in Australia and NSW.
“You have got plenty of time to recalibrate. I have a feeling that a strong 1200 metres, which you’re going to get at Randwick, it’s going to be a high-pressure race that is going to suit him.”
Earlier this week, Widden Stud secured Anders as a stallion proposition after the chestnut’s emphatic wins in The Rosebud (Listed, 1100m) and the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m).
And while Widden principal Antony Thompson suggested that Anders’ path after the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) on Friday would take in the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), McGrath says that The Everest remains a firm possibility, especially if he takes the Moir.
“I spoke to Antony this morning and with the way negotiations have gone with Farnan and Kia Ora as managing owner, it’s the same with Widden and Anders,” McGrath said. “Anders has worked super since he’s gone to Melbourne and he will run in the Moir on Friday week.
“He’s quite short in the market, as he should be, and after the Moir hopefully we’ll have a really good decision to make because if he runs as expected I am pretty sure anyone without a horse for their slot will be giving Antony a call.”
Farnan becomes the sixth horse to secure a spot in the October 17 contest, joining Nature Strip (Nicconi, TAB), Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt, Bon Ho), Gytrash (Lope De Vega, Inglis), Rothfire (Rothesay, miRunners) and Tofane (Ocean Park, Yulong Investments).
Six down, six to go – but who will be the remaining six?
Six more slots are yet to be filled, with today’s The Shorts (Gr 2, 1100m) set to serve as an audition for prospective runners.
However, there may only be a couple of slot holders who will be looking at today’s race and others are likely to wait for the Premiere Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) before making their decision.
Here are the six slot holders that are yet to pick their representatives:
Chris Waller Racing
2019: Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) – won
2018: Brave Smash (Tosen Phantom) – eighth
2017: Deploy (Fastnet Rock) – ninth
If original slot choices had held up last year, the race would have lost its eventual winner.
Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Enticing Star (Testa Rossa) was set to represent the Chris Waller stable in the race after she was transferred from the Perth stable of Adam Durrant.
However, she failed at her first-up run in the Golden Pendant (Gr 2, 1400m) and was retired, leaving Waller to find a replacement at short notice.
Of course, the stable had a ready-made replacement in Golden Rose runner-up Yes Yes Yes, who would cap his short career with an historic Everest victory.
Intriguingly, Waller’s first two slotholders came from outside of his stable in the Gerald Ryan-trained Deploy and the Darren Weir-prepared Brave Smash.
While it remains possible that the stable will once again look away from their boxes, particularly with likely favourite Nature Strip to line up in the TAB slot, last weekend’s Sheraco Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Haut Brion Her (Zoustar) looks the most likely selection for this spot.
Coolmore
2019: Ten Sovereigns (No Nay Never) – 12th
2018: U S Navy Flag (War Front) – ninth
2017: Tulip (Pierro) – fifth
For the first time since the inaugural Everest, when three-year-old filly Tulip (Pierro) represented the operation, Coolmore will be represented by a local horse.
Three-time Group 1 placegetter Lope Y Fernandez (Lope De Vega) was considered but was ruled out, Coolmore’s racing manager Rob Archibald told ANZ Bloodstock News last week.
“First things first, we will not be bringing out a horse from the northern hemisphere, so that rules that out, and obviously, we’re keeping an eye on all those three-year-old colts who could potentially be stallion prospects and that may double up as being suitable for The Everest,” Archibald said.
“Outside of that, we are also looking at any horse by one of our stallions to fill the slot which we obviously would love to promote with the likes of Fasika and Peltzer (in the mix). The next three or four weeks will help put pieces in the puzzle for us and we’re hoping that one of those horses by our stallions jumps out and makes it obvious.”
Fasika (So You Think) disappointed as favourite in the Sheraco Stakes, while Peltzer stuck on behind a strong tempo for fourth in the Run To The Rose. If Peltzer can improve again third-up in the Golden Rose, he looks a logical selection.
Godolphin
2019: Alizee (Sepoy) – seventh
Godolphin first acquired their spot last year, taking over the slot formerly held by Damion Flower.
Sheikh Mohammed’s operation made a late decision to side with Alizee over Golden Rose winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) last year, making their decision within ten days of the feature.
However, if Bivouac – now a Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) victor as well – returns as well as expected in today’s The Shorts, he will almost certainly be named as the Godolphin representative in this year’s The Everest.
In fact, trainer James Cummings said that Bivouac was being treated as their Everest horse and, all being equal, he will line up on October 17.
If not, then the “boys in blue” have a number of other horses to consider, with two-time Group 1 winner Trekking (Street Cry) the most likely alternative. Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Hanseatic (Street Boss) is another possibility.
James Harron Bloodstock
2019: Nature Strip (Nicconi) – fourth
2018: Vega Magic (Lope De Vega) – 12th
2017: Redzel (Snitzel) – won
The inaugural winning slotholder in 2017, James Harron has been a pioneer as far as slot selection is concerned.
He locked in Vega Magic fairly early in 2018, but when that strategy failed, he made it clear last year that he would “play a waiting game” to lock in a horse in form.
He ended up with Nature Strip after the enigmatic gelding won the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), with the five-year-old leading before finishing fourth. In hindsight, it was a good choice as Nature Strip would add a further two Group 1 wins that season and is likely to be named Australian Horse of the Year for the 2019-20 term.
A similar strategy looks to be in play this year, which means that today’s The Shorts runners may be trying to impress Harron and his partners.
Max Whitby
2019: Sunlight (Zoustar) – tenth
2018: Graff (Star Witness) – fifth
2017: Vega Magic (Lope De Vega) – second
Max Whitby and his slot partners Neil Werrett, Steve McCann and Colin Madden have made their selections early the last two years, but they were the last to secure a horse in 2017 and they are likely to make a late call again this year.
There has been very little said about who could fill their slot, with the likelihood that a horse who performs over the next three weeks will be selected.
If there is a left-field choice, though, it could come from them, with Whitby and Werrett partnering in the ownership of stakes-placed mare Jen Rules (Redoute’s Choice).
While she may seem an unlikely Everest contender, Jen Rules has proven a very consistent mare of late and her runner-up finish in the Sheraco Stakes puts her in the vicinity of Haut Brion Her, who has attracted Everest attention in the last week.
The Star
2019: Arcadia Queen (Pierro) – 11th
2018: Shoals (Fastnet Rock) – 11th
2017: Redkirk Warrior (Notnowcato) – tenth
After three poor years for The Star, they have made the decision to hold off on naming a runner early this year.
They are also likely to pick a big name who performs over the next few weekends.
If Santa Ana Lane impresses on his return in the Gilgai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) in two weeks, he shapes as a horse likely to fit their profile.