Base Camp – Who are the Everest Contenders?

Four climbers have already been locked in. As we sit at base camp, who will make up the final eight attempting to summit Everest?

It’s a somewhat different build-up to the $20 million Everest this year when it comes to slot holders. As of September 9, only four horses have officially been locked in.

The question is – why? Is it a lack of depth in our sprinting ranks following a wave of retirements to stud or injury, a shortage of top-class 3YO/4YO prospects, or simply that slot holders feel like they’re running for second with the unbeaten Ka Ying Rising sitting at $1.70 in the market?

In my view, this year’s Everest is shaping as one of the most intriguing slot puzzles we’ve seen. For all three reasons above, it’s a very different landscape when it comes to picking your runner.

With 39 days until the race itself, below is my predicted field along with an overview of the ten horses I think are fighting for the final eight slots (green are already locked in).

1. Lady Shenandoah (Coolmore / James Harron Bloodstock / Chris Waller Racing)

If I were a betting man (which I definitely am), the 4YO daughter of Snitzel would be marked around $1.01 to secure a slot in this year’s Everest. There were plenty of question marks heading into her first-up assignment in the 1000m Concorde Stakes – a race Redzel won in 2017 and 2018, and Nature Strip in 2021 before claiming the Everest that same year.

She answered those questions with absolute class. While not victorious on the day, she proved she can absorb a high-pressure 1000m contest and still unleash her trademark late turn of foot. Stretching out to 1200m, with the likes of Private Harry and Ka Ying Rising likely to ensure a strong tempo up front, we may well see the best version of Lady Shenandoah yet.

2. Joliestar (James Harron Bloodstock/ Chris Waller Racing / John Camilleri / Trackside Media)

Surprisingly, last year’s Everest favourite hasn’t yet been snapped up by a slot holder. She finished 7th in last year’s edition but suffered from transit issues – a theme that ran through much of her spring campaign.

Joliestar bounced back strongly in the autumn, winning the G1 Newmarket Handicap second up, finishing within 2L of Briasa in the G1 TJ Smith, and just 0.59L off Jimmysstar in the G1 All Aged Stakes. She has the perfect CV for the Everest and the racing style to sit just behind expected hot speed before unleashing her turn of foot late. She resumes this week in the G2 Sheraco Stakes over 1200m and will likely be second up into an Everest tilt. I’d fully expect her to be there come October.

3. Overpass (Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis / Newgate & GPI Racing)

It feels like an “out of sight, out of mind” scenario this year with Overpass. The Bjorn Baker and Derby Racing team have placed this galloper exceptionally well over the past two years, targeting lower-hanging fruit but still racing for juicy prizemoney.

He finished 6th, beaten 2.72L, in the 2022 Everest before running 10th in 2023, 4L off the winner. The tricky task for Baker and the Derby team is that Overpass’ best figures have historically come first-up. That means the stable may need to advertise him to slot holders, who would have to take him on trust without seeing him race again before Everest day. Alternatively, the team could bypass the Everest and instead target the Sydney Stakes before heading west in search of a Winterbottom Stakes three-peat.

4. Angel Capital (Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis)

This former Clinton McDonald galloper has burst onto the scene as Chris Waller’s third contender for this year’s Everest. First-up this preparation in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes, he produced a career-peak rating over 1200m when surging wide around the Valley’s tight turns.

The question for slot holders – and Waller – is whether he’s ultimately better suited to 1400–1600m, distances where he has already claimed the G2 Autumn Stakes and G3 Guineas Prelude. As a 4YO, he also has the option of targeting the Golden Eagle. Could we see him attempt the double, following the same path Joliestar blazed last year?

Chautauqua Stakes | Angel Capital

Angel Capital makes a statement ⭐️ He emulates Chautauqua, coming from near last to tear away against a quality field of sprinters 😱

📺 Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/ZIa4a02wC0 pic.twitter.com/OxKEZJ0FqW

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 6, 2025

5. Headwall (Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis)

As far as auditions go, Headwall couldn’t have done much more in the G2 Concorde Stakes, showing off his dynamic turn of speed to mow down rivals late. There was plenty of merit in the win given the lanes and his position in running.

He has risen sharply to WFA sprinting level over the past 12 months – highlighted by his 3rd placing in this year’s G1 TJ Smith behind Briasa and Overpass, beating home the likes of Jimmysstar and Joliestar. History also leans in his favour: the Concorde Stakes has proven a strong Everest launching pad, producing three winners – Redzel (2017 & 2018) and Nature Strip (2021). Headwall has already ticked the 1200m box and would not look out of place in this year’s Everest field.

6. Tiger Shark (Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis)

This is my left-field selection for this year’s Everest. Could it be Clayton Douglas’ second runner in the race alongside stablemate Giga Kick? Tiger Shark came into Douglas’ hands after a lacklustre Queensland campaign. He was arguably the run of the race outside Lady Shenandoah in the Concorde Stakes – a 5YO mare who overcame a terrible run early before peeling wide to unleash the race-best final 600m.

It was a sneaky, yet impressive, Everest audition. The big question mark is whether the 5YO can extend past 1200m with the same electric finish.

7. Giga Kick (James Harron Bloodstock / Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis)

What do we do with Giga Kick? He’s chasing his third Everest start after winning it in 2022 as the rank outsider, before finishing a narrow second last year, beaten just 0.12L by Bella Nipotina. Of this year’s field, he brings an exceptional Everest CV.

The question mark lies in his only “fair” two starts in the Autumn – were they simply to blow out the cobwebs so Clayton doesn’t have a tough task getting him fit this spring, or signs of a 6YO regressing? He’s active on Racing Australia but hasn’t been seen at trials or jump-outs. If physically right, he should be a definite starter.

Now we turn our attention to the new season 3YOs. Both Yes Yes Yes (2019) and Giga Kick (2022) have flown the flag, making it two 3YO winners from just eight editions of the race. Beyond those victories, plenty of other 3YOs have run bold races in defeat, showing the age group can measure up at the highest level.

The weight advantage has always been a key factor – 53kg for colts and geldings, and 51kg for fillies – which has proven a genuine edge in past editions.

The big query this year is whether the presence of Ka Ying Rising will scare the 3YOs away and keep them to their own age group. Connections might fear “blowing them up” against seasoned sprinters when the Coolmore Stud Stakes looms as a softer target. Then again, with $20 million on the table, the Everest is a mighty big carrot to chase.

8. Tempted (Godolphin / Mulberry Racing / John Camilleri / Inglis)

Tempted looks the flag bearer for the 3YOs this year. She put together a lovely 2YO season despite not always enjoying smooth runs, claiming the G2 Reisling Stakes over the eventual Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, before starting favourite in the Slipper itself and finishing third (beaten 1.76L). She then franked that form carrying 57kg to win the red-hot Percy Sykes Stakes.

Now under the care of Ciaron Maher, last year’s Everest-winning trainer, Tempted is in the right camp. She looked exceptional in a recent 1050m trial and is set to resume in the Cap D’Antibes (1100m) with James McDonald likely to ride. The Maher stable has suggested the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes is the main target this prep, but we’ve seen the Everest-to-Coolmore profile stack up before – Switzerland, for example, won the Coolmore after running in the Everest.

She’d add serious intrigue to what is already shaping as the most fascinating Everest to date. The lingering question is whether connections will want to expose such a talented young 3YO to Ka Ying Rising and battle-hardened older sprinters.

9. Tentyris (Godolphin)

With Godolphin holding a slot you’d bet your money that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum will surely want one of his own gallopers to represent it. Tentyris is the forgotten 2YO, now 3YO. He finished second in the G1 Blue Diamond before winning the key lead-up to the Golden Slipper, the G2 Todman Stakes, defeating Wodeton and Nepotism, before pulling up with a minor issue.

The son of Street Boss has had a gallop between races but has yet to appear at official trials. Will the injury setback mean the Godolphin operation takes it easier with this talented colt this spring? That’s the question I’m pondering.

10. Beadman (Newgate & GPI Racing)

The Newgate-owned Beadman had a very different 2YO campaign. Beaten on debut, he then posted an impressive 1250m maiden win at Newcastle, before finishing 8.3L clear of rivals in the G3 Ken Russell Stakes on the Gold Coast.

He’s been out in the paddock for 17 weeks and has had one official trial over 790m, with another likely over 900m+ soon. With Newgate teaming up with GPI for a slot, they’ll likely aim to fill it with a Newgate-owned galloper. Beadman carries a similar vibe to Giga Kick from 2022 – a left-field, untapped 3YO with upside.

11. Wodeton (Coolmore / Chris Waller Racing)

The fourth and final 3YO I’m considering to climb the Everest summit comes from Coolmore. With their slot yet to be filled, the story is similar to Newgate and Godolphin – ideally, Coolmore would want one of their own to represent it.

Wodeton impressed first-up in the San Domenico Stakes, where with clear air he arguably wins. He also holds the ace card, handling both wet and dry conditions – a trait that has proven crucial over the years. The question now is whether they’ll target the 1400m G1 Golden Rose before stepping up to the 1600m G1 Caulfield Guineas.