American sprinter Bound For Nowhere has emerged as a surprise contender for the $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14.
Chautauqua, above, is the early favourite for 2017 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Legendary Keeneland trainer Wesley Ward had initially earmarked The Everest for his speedy filly Lady Aurelia following her win in the in the Group 1 £400,000 King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 20 but has now indicated that she could fill the 2018 slot.
Three year old colt Bound For Nowhere could now fill Ward’s 2017 slot for The Everest after the colt ran fourth to the Aidan O’Brien trained Caravaggio in the Group 1 £400,000 Commonwealth Cup (6 furlongs) at Royal Ascot on June 23.
“(Bound For Nowhere) is a horse that I own myself. He is a beautiful horse – a different type of horse than she (Lady Aurelia) is. A bigger, more imposing horse. She is a smaller filly but very compact. He is going to keep improving and has been her work mate for the past two months. He is very talented,” Ward told Sky Sports Radio.
“(Jockey) David Flores, who replaced Frankie (Dettori) when Frankie got injured, told me that he should have been closer in the race. He told me he broke sharp and could have been in front but my instructions were to follow the speed which he did, but he really had to anchor him back said that when he went to make his move Caravaggio hindered him. He had to check and wait and when he finally got out he was coming.”
“That being only his third start in his life and his only start outside of Kentucky really gave me high hopes for him. I think he’s got a big, big future. I plan on going back to France for a Group One (on August 6) and if he has a good showing there, I’d love to go (to The Everest).”
Ward is also very excited about the future of Lady Aurelia who he thinks will develop into a top line sprinter during her four year old year which will fit into his plans to bring her to Australia for the 2018 The Everest.
“I think she is most effective at (1000m). She is a great horse and certainly she can go six furlongs (1200m) but I just think this year we just centre around what she does best and then hopefully we can get through the year with a couple more wins and next year we can go over and try (The Everest),” Ward said.
“She is such a young filly and has been a lot of different places already. If we give her the time off again, as a four-year-old she’ll be bigger and stronger and hopefully faster and we can go down there and do that.
“Ultimately that decision goes with the owners but this filly is just three. It’s certainly something I’d love to do but next year as a four-year-old is what I would like.”
Bound For Nowhere has been slotted into The Everest betting at Ladbrokes.com.au at $34 while Lady Aurelia is higher up the market order at $11.
The Team Hawkes and Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua heads the betting at $4.80 ahead of Caravaggio at $6 and Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and champion mare Winx at $8.
Early market order for the 2017 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Chautauqua, $6 Caravaggio, $8 She Will Reign, Winx, $11 Lady Aurelia, $13 Russian Revolution, English, $15 Houtzen, Spieth, Vega Magic, $21 Fell Swoop, $26 Acapulco, Black Heart Bart, Lankan Rupee, Limato, Mecca’s Angel, Redzel, Terravista, $34 Bound For Nowhere, Global Glamour, Malaguerra, Music Magnate, Takedown, $41 or better the rest.
