West Australian owned Arcadia Queen has had plenty of support in the betting at Ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the 2019 $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Arcadia Queen, above, is one of three runners for Chris Waller in The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Arcadia Queen, above, is one of three runners for Chris Waller in The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Arcadia Queen is one of three Chris Waller trained sprinters to line up in The Everest and has firmed in the betting since the field was finalised from $5.50 to be challenging for favouritism at $5 behind Santa Ana Lane who sits at the top of the market order at $4.40.

Arcadia Queen has drawn perfectly at gate three in the twelve horse The Everest field with James McDonald to ride and Waller said that the mare is still on the improve.

“It’s a very good draw for Arcadia Queen,” Waller said.

“I guess she’s a little bit vulnerable at 1200m, but she’ll certainly be very strong at the end of the race. Barrier three should allow her to find a nice comfort zone, a nice midfield position, but if she wants to settle closer, she can.”

“Arcadia Queen, she’s done an amazing job in Western Australia.”

“She’s shown Sydney that she can win here. She’s a young horse, a four-year-old. She has a lot of upsides and qualities.”

Arcadia Queen was a convincing winner of the Group 1 $1m Magic Millions Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot during the 2018 – 2019 Perth Summer Carnival under Perth trainers Grant and Alana Williams and then won first up for Waller with an impressive performance in the Group 2 $200,000 Tooheys 150th Birthday Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on September 14.

A couple of bets at Ladbrokes.com.au that have helped Arcadia Queen’s price stay firm have been a $750 bet at $4.80 as well as a $400 bet at $4.80.

Waller will also saddle up the only three year old in The Everest field, Yes Yes Yes at $9, and the $26 chance Nature Strip.

Yes Yes Yes has drawn barrier nine with Glen Boss in the saddle while Nature Strip will jump from the outside gate with Tim Clark in charge of the reins.

Nature Strip claimed his second Group 1 trophy with a gutsy performance to win the $1m Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley on September 27 after claiming the Group 1 $700,000 OOH!Media Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill during the 2019 Sydney Autumn Carnival.

Yes Yes Yes has performed well at both his runs this Spring with two seconds behind the James Cummings trained Bivouac at Rosehill in the Group 2 $200,000 Sydney Markets Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 14 and in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose (1400m) a fortnight later.

The Anthony Freedman trained Santa Ana Lane has had one run leading into The Everest for a second to Sunlight in the Group 2 $300,000 Gilgai Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight on October 5.

Santa Ana Lane has drawn in close at barrier two with Mark Zahra retaining the ride.

Betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.40 Santa Ana Lane, $5 Arcadia Queen, $6.50 Pierata, $9 Yes Yes Yes, $11 Redzel, $13 Alizee, $14 Sunlight, $19 Classique Legend, $26 Nature Strip, In Her Time, Brutal, Ten Sovereigns, $31 Trekking, $101 Home Of The Brave, $126 Champagne Cuddles, $151 Brave Song.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.