Former West Australian sprinter Vega Magic has put himself into contention for a slot in The Everest following his first up win in the Group 1 $1m Darley Goodwood (1200m) at Morphettville last Saturday.
Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua, above, is the early favourite for The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
The inaugural running of the $10 million The Everest over 1200m will be at Randwick on October 14 and Lindsay Park co-trainer David Hayes has already started negotiations to find a slot for Vega Magic.
“I know there have been people who have bought tickets and they don’t have the right horse,” Hayes told The Advertiser on Sunday.
“So what happens is you get the two people together — the owner of the horse and the owner of the ticket — and they do a deal. A few of them (ticketholders) have been in touch with me already.”
“And Vega Magic is a horse who’s proven he can do it on the big stage fresh. That tells me if there was potential to do a deal, I’d set him for it and just go for it.”
Vega Magic was having his first start for the Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig when he scored a powerful first up win for the stable in The Goodwood.
While The Goodwood win wasn’t a surprise, Hayes was very excited after the race and is certain Vega Magic can reach the heights of The Everest.
“He trialed so well we were confident that we had him right and he is a bit athletic horse,” Hayes said after The Goodwood win.
“He came over from Perth about ten weeks ago in great order and it was a pleasure to get a horse of this class.
“We will probably back off him, but I reckon he will be an ideal horse for The Everest.”
Hayes said that he would now spell Vega Magic before preparing him for the Spring and hopefully produce him first up again in The Everest.
Early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au has Vega Magic as a $13 chance behind the Team Hawkes trained Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua who heads the market order at $4.60.
Also in contention for The Everest is the Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign and super mare Winx who share the second line of betting at $8 and the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained English and Team Snowden’s Group 1 winning three year old Russian Revolution at $11.
Early market order for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Chautauqua, $8 She Will Reign, Winx, $11 English, Russian Revolution, $13 Vega Magic, $15 Houtzen, Spieth, $21 Black Heart Bart, Fell Swoop, $26 Acapulco, Lady Aurelia, Lankan Rupee, Limato, Mecca’s Angel, $34 Malaguerra, Music Magnate, Takedown, Terravista, $34 or better the rest.
