Kerrin McEvoy has won The Everest three times in the race’s six-year existence and is convinced he’s on the forgotten horse in Saturday’s $20 million feature at Randwick.
The likeable hoop won the first ever running of The Everest aboard the Snowden-trained Redzel in 2017. The pair repeated the dose 12 months later with McEvoy’s other Everest victory coming in 2020 aboard the Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Trainer Chris Waller out to make history at The Everest.
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This year he rides Shinzo and form pundits will note the colt’s lacklustre return to racing when he finished an inglorious ninth in the Golden Rose behind stablemate and Caulfield Guineas favourite, Militarize.
“He’s the forgotten horse and people need to remember he had a little issue and it was just a complete forget run,” McEvoy said of Shinzo, who featured in the stewards report as being 2/5 lame following the Golden Rose.
“I’ve ridden him a fair bit this preparation and I know he’s back to his best.”
The champion jockey then pointed to Shinzo’s autumn form, suggesting he is over the odds at $18.
“Cylinder is a $9 chance and my bloke has beaten him,” he said.
“He gave Cylinder a start in the Golden Slipper and went past him and now he is half our price.
“It just feels the market has reacted to one run and we know there were genuine excuses for that failure.”
The Everest lacks natural speed with Overpass the only noted leader in the race.
“Correct, but you have to remember this is a $20mil grand final and no one will want to leave a stone unturned,” he said.
“It wouldn’t surprise me to see Cylinder go forward and then you’ve got a couple of horses drawn wide that might push on.
“Shinzo loves a hot tempo. It’s a bit up in the air how the race will be run but I’m very confident he will run a much better race.”
McEvoy didn’t mince his words when asked by 7Racing him for his best ride at Randwick.
“I really like Arctic Glamour and think she can feature in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas [1600m] next month,” he said.
“Her first-up win was simply awesome and while this is harder I barely gave her a tap and there was plenty more under the bonnet.”
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