Last year's G1 Golden Rose S. third Menari (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) will contest the A$13-million The Everest on Oct. 13 in the Max Whitby and Neil Werrett slot after they struck a deal with owner George Altomonte, according to published reports.
Trained by Gerald Ryan, Menari was one of the more exciting 3-year-old sprinters in the spring but underwent a corrective throat surgery following his Group 1 placing and then sustained a suspensory injury that knocked him out of the autumn, and so has not been seen since September.
“Gerald has all the confidence in the world that he's come back in terrific shape,” Whitby told Racenet. “He's very bullish about the horse. He's had a couple of setbacks in the past but Gerald's sure his wind isn't going to be an issue and we're happy to have him.”
Whitby and Werrett took second in last year's Everest with Vega Magic (Aus) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).
“He's got a real X-factor,” Whitby added of Menari. “We could have gone back to Vega [Magic] but I was determined to get some fresh blood this year and this is a sprinter that has the makings of something special. George [Altomonte] has had his share of good horses and he's got a bit rap on him.”
There are three slot holders still to announce their horse for The Everest: GPI Racing, Greg Ingham and Andy Williams Bloodstock; James Harron Bloodstock and the Australian Turf Club.
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