Waterhouse, Bott chasing first win in The Everest

Posted by RS NewsWire at 5:25pm on October 18th

Co-trainer Adrian Bott believes the presence of four three-year-olds adds intrigue into what is shaping as a wide open The Everest at Randwick on Saturday.

Bott and Gai Waterhouse are yet to win an Everest and this year their stable’s hopes rest with three-year-old colt Storm Boy and three-year-old filly Lady Of Camelot.

Joining them in the elite 12-horse line up is the James Cummings-trained colt Traffic Warden and Ciaron Maher-trained colt Growing Empire, making it the most number of three-year-olds to ever have contested an Everest.

Storm Boy was confirmed early this week to run in the slot of Coolmore Stud and Bott says the high-profile colt has freshened well since his fourth placing in the Golden Rose.

“I think it’s an open race and it’s intriguing with the presence of the three-year-olds,” Bott said, when assessing Storm Boy’s Everest hopes.

“I think he (Storm Boy) is every bit as good as all those three-year-olds that are taking their place.

“He certainly deserves his spot there.

“He’ll make his presence felt and if the three-year-olds are up to it and can take on the older horses at this stage – which they’ve proven they can in this particular race – then yeah, he’s right in the mix.

“We just need a few things to go his way. A nice clean break, some good weather on the day I think will be relatively key as well.”

Two three-year-olds have won The Everest in its seven previous runnings, with colt Yes Yes Yes successful in 2019 and gelding Giga Kick winning two years ago.

This year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot will be the first three-year-old filly to contest an Everest since three fillies – Tulip, Houtzen and She Will Reign – all ran in the first edition of the race in 2017.

Lady Of Camelot is the outsider of the field in betting markets but Bott is certainly not discounting her.

“She’s going better than what the market will suggest,” Bott said.

“Her first-up run at weight-for-age was excellent when she stuck on great in the Moir.

“She’s had a bit of time to build towards this and she looks the best she has.”

Storm Boy, to be ridden by Brenton Avdulla, has barrier five while Rachel King has the ride on Lady Of Camelot from the second widest barrier.

“Storm Boy’s got tactical speed,” Bott said.

“I know his gate speed itself has been a little bit questioned previously but I thought he’s shown good improvement in that.

“He musters really well and I think he can take advantage of it from that draw.

“Lady Of Camelot is a little bit more versatile but at the same time she might need to use a bit of speed to offset that draw, she could end up in an awkward position otherwise.

“So she’s most likely to press forward as well.”

Sixth placings to both English (2017) and Hawaii Five Oh (2023) have been the Waterhouse-Bott stable’s best Everest results from four previous runners in the race.

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th