Group 1 bridesmaid Osborne Bulls threw down the challenge for a slot in the 2019 $14m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 19 with an eye catching barrier trail at Rosehill on Tuesday.

Osborne Bulls, above in royal blue colours, is vying for a slot in the 2019 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Osborne Bulls, above in royal blue colours, is vying for a slot in the 2019 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.

Osborne Bulls has carried the Godolphin royal blue colours into the runner’s up stall at his last five starts, all at Group 1 level, but showed that he is ready to produce his best during the 2019 Spring Carnival when he stretched out nicely under the restraint of Hugh Bowman when a closing fourth in the 900m barrier trial.

The James Cummings trained sprinter is also vying for The Everest slot that Godolphin acquired last month but he will have some strong opposition from several stablemates, headed by Alizee,  and will have to perform well on the race track when he resumes in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 7.

“He screamed home up the middle of the A-grass, just kept eating up the ground,” Cummings told Racenet.

“We have some time up our sleeve just to keep ticking him over to get him ready for the Concorde Stakes (Randwick – September 7) fresh up.”

“He’s quite likely to have another trial but he doesn’t have to so I’ll be guided by him.”

Osborne Bulls’ run of Group 1 placings started during the 2019 Autumn Carnival with two seconds down the Flemington straight in the $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) and in the $1.25m Seppelt Newmarket Handicap (1200m).

Cummings then directed his attention to Sydney where Osborne Bulls found the runner’s up stall twice at Randwick in the Group 1 $2.5m Aquis T J Smith Stakes (1200m) and in the Group 1 $600,000 Schweppes All Aged Stakes (1400m).

Osborne Bulls latest run before heading to the paddock saw him go down narrowly again when runner up to The Bostonian in the Group 1 $800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben during the 2019 Brisbane Winter Carnival.

Slots for the 2019 The Everest that have been allocated are Chris Waller Racing – Enticing Star, The Star – Arcadia Queen, Yulong Investments – Redzel, Max Whitby – Sunlight, TAB – Santa Ana Lane, Aquis – Pierata, Bon Ho & Carmel Size Racing – Classique Legend and Inglis – In Her Time.

Early betting at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 2019 The Everest has Osborne Bulls on the second line of betting at $7 behind the T J Smith Stakes winner Santa Ana Lane who heads the market order at $5.

Early betting for the 2019 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $5 Santa Ana Lane, $7 Osborne Bulls, $8 Arcadia Queen, Pierata, $9 Sunlight, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Redzel, $13 Alizee, In Her Time, $15 Brutal, Enticing Star, Ten Sovereigns, $17 Yes Yes Yes, Graff, $21 Hot King Prawn, Zoustyle, Nature Strip, $26 Advertise, The Bostonian, $34 Vega Magic, Zousain, $41 or better the rest.

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.