Everest Contenders To Step Out

Chautauqua | Sharon Chapman

A trio of leading contenders for the A$10-million The Everest on Oct. 14 will be in action at Randwick and Flemington on Saturday. Champion sprinter Chautauqua (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who will race for slot holder Greg Ingham in The Everest, makes the first start of his 7-year-old campaign in the 1100 metre G2 The Shorts S. and was last seen winning a third-straight G1 TJ Smith S. at The Championships going last to first. The grey gelding doesn't have a sparkling first-up record, but co-trainer Michael Hawkes told Racing.com, “He's in a great frame of mind, physically he looks unbelievable, mentally he's phenomenal, and he's the Chautauqua of what we've always known him to be. The biggest key is the maturity, and hopefully that will continue on for a little bit yet.”

Among Chautauqua's eight rivals are Redzel (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}), who will race for James Harron Bloodstock in The Everest, and English (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}), who will fill the TAB slot.

At Flemington, Redkirk Warrior (GB) (Notnowcato {GB})–who could potentially fill the Lindsay Park Everest slot–makes his first-up run in the 1200 metre G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality. Another high profile sprinter set for the same card is last season's G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), who runs second-up in the G2 Danehill S. Cups horses will also be on display in the Listed Japan Racing Association Trophy over 2500 metres. As could be expected, trainer Robert Hickmott holds a very strong hand for owner Lloyd Williams, headed by last year's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}) and rounded out by Irish imports Crocodile Rock (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Aloft (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Bondi Beach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Hans Holbein (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Granddukeoftuscany (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

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