The famous British mountaineer George Mallory, who died in an attempt to climb Mount Everest in 1924, was quoted as having answered a question posed by a New York Times reporter – as to why he wanted so desperately to reach the summit of the world’s highest peak – with the famous retort: ”Because it’s there”.

Much the same sentiment has grabbed the connections of 1200 m. specialists in Australia who are all set to tackle the newest “rich” race, appropriately named The Everest, whose inaugural running is scheduled for Saturday, October 14^th at Sydney’s Randwick racecourse. Pencilled in for a 4:15 p.m. start (10:45 a.m. in India), the race is worth Australian $10 million (about Rs.51 crores), with the winner’s share being A$5,800,000 (about Rs.30 crores). This makes it the world’s richest race on turf, with only the dirt-based Dubai World Cup and The Pegasus offering a greater prize.

“Because it’s there”, connections have ponied up large sums to be able to participate. Ten of the runners have had to negotiate a slot in the starting gate with one of the  ‘slot holders’, each of whom has had to put up A$600,000 (about Rs.3.05 crores) to guarantee a spot, which was done by way of a speculative investment last year. Two of the runners belong to slot holders themselves. The slot holders might have (a) made a cash profit, (b) chosen to take a share of stake money or stud fees or breeding leases, or (c) made a cash loss in an attempt to get some return. As they say, “only their hair dresser knows for sure”!

In many ways it’s a similar concept to that of The Pegasus, which was the brainchild of Frank Stronach (or one of his team), whose inaugural running at Gulfstream Park was covered in these columns in January this year. An essential difference is that in the case of The Everest, slot holders have a three-year commitment, so there is a greater chance to make – or lose – money.

On to the runners...

Given the impeccable credentials he brings to the table, one needs to pay particular attention to the seven-year-old gelding Chautauqua (by Encosta De Lago), the world’s highest-rated sprinter. His exploits have been many and varied – what gives him an edge is that he is a six-time Group 1 winner. If that were not enough, his resume includes three victories in the Gr.1 T.J. Smith Stakes, which happens to be run over the very same 1200 m. trip at Randwick. Not that he necessarily needs his own track – he has travelled to Hong Kong for a victorious effort in the Champions Sprint there, showing himself to be well up to international standards. Brenton Avdulla will steer the grey, who is drawn five, for the Hawkes Stable. British bookmakers have him pegged at 5 to 1.

Favourite at a point shorter is She Will Reign (by Manhattan Rain), a rags-to-riches story of the kind that so energizes potential investors in horseflesh. A mere A$20,000 purchase, she took home the richest juvenile race on the continent, the Longines Golden Slipper in March this year. Corey Brown takes over at the controls on the in-form three-year-old filly, who hails from the Gary Portelli barn. Drawn 2, she seems sure to finish on the board, if not win outright.

Bringing a streak of victories into the race is former Western Australia-based five-year-old Vega Magic (by Lope De Vega), who has been unbeaten since relocating to the yard of the Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig trio. The 9 to 2 chance comes in off a terrific triumph in the Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last month. However Craig Williams will have his work cut out to bring the gelding into a challenging position from gate no. 10.

Leading rider Kerrin McEvoy, who had a stint riding for Darley in Europe some years ago, has contracted to partner Redzel (by Snitzel), winner of his last four starts including one in the prestigious Gr.1 contest, the James Boag’s Premium Doomben “10,000” Stakes. He is one of the many syndicate-owned runners in Australia and will be sporting the silks of Triple Crown Syndicate. The father-and-son pairing of Peter and Paul Snowden condition the half-brother of Danerich at Randwick so the five-year-old gelding will enjoy “home advantage”. Well drawn in 4, he is a 13 to 2 prospect and attracts at that price. Incidentally, he set a new track record last time out.

Another cheap auction acquisition, this time in England, is the 22,000 guineas purchase Redkirk Warrior (by Notnowcato). Formerly trained by William Haggas, he scored twice for his yard before being snapped up by Hong Kong-based M B Lee & Miss Jenny Tam Yuk Ching and transferred to W Y So at Sha Tin. The gelding did not seem to enjoy the Orient and was thus sent to Australia where he became the first horse in a century to score in the Gr.1 Lexus Newmarket Handicap at Flemington (Melbourne) without the benefit of a preparatory run. Stablemate of Vega Magic, the chestnut is generally an 8 to 1 chance in the hands of Regan Bayliss.

Not to be confused with the former Juddmonte runner of the same name, Deploy (by Fastnet Rock) cost A$450,000 as a yearling. Gerald Ryan’s gelded ward comes in off a facile four-length victory in the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill (also in Sydney) and also has winning form over course and distance at Randwick, not to mention a couple of track records. A win for him would bring considerable cheer to the owners of Smuggler’s Cove, a stallion at Track Supreme Stud in Rajasthan, as he too is a son of Fastnet Rock.

Drawn 7, Deploy shares the same odds of 9 to 1 as Newhaven Park’s mare English (by Encosta De Lago), who will have to start from the widest gate of all, no. 12. She has been winless for a while and does not realistically appear to have a chance to break that drought in an event of this magnitude. Still, as a representative of leading schooler Gai Waterhouse and with prominent rider Blake Shinn in the saddle, she needs to be respected.

Few would dismiss the remaining five runners – after all their connections have probably spent heavily to get here. There are those who can make a case for outsiders Clearly Innocent (by Not A Single Doubt) and Houtzen (by I Am Invincible). However, it would require a “superhuman” effort for any of the remaining trio, namely Brave Smash (a Japanese-bred by Tosen Phantom), Tulip (by Pierro) or Fell Swoop (by Not A Single Doubt), to oblige.

Tactics – to sit or to blaze the trail – will play a crucial part. A short list might contain the names of Chautauqua, Redzel, She Will Reign and Vega Magic.