The Everest 2026: Field, Tips, Odds & Betting Guide

The Everest has rapidly become one of the most influential and talked-about races in Australian racing. First run in 2017 at Royal Randwick, it was created by Racing NSW and the Australian Turf Club as a bold new concept: a sprint race run under weight-for-age conditions with slot-holders buying their way into the field. With a record purse from the outset, it instantly became the world’s richest turf race and a centrepiece of Sydney’s spring carnival.

The structure of the race is what makes it so distinctive. Twelve slot-holders purchase a place in the field and can either run their own horse or negotiate with connections to secure a contender. This adds a commercial and strategic layer to the race unseen in other major competitions. The build-up often plays out publicly, from slot negotiations to late-stage deals and emergency reshuffles, injecting a level of theatre that racing fans and broader sports audiences have embraced.

Across its short history, The Everest has already produced memorable moments. Redzel swept the first two editions, becoming a cult figure for his toughness and consistency. Nature Strip delivered one of the most dominant sprinting victories ever seen when he won in 2021, while Giga Kick stunned the field as a three-year-old in 2022, highlighting the race’s ability to create overnight stars. Its roll call of winners reads like a who’s who of modern Australian sprinting.

The Everest has also become a cultural event. More than just a race, it draws huge crowds, major-brand activation, national broadcast attention and international interest from owners and trainers. Its place in the calendar, just weeks before the traditional Melbourne majors, has added a competitive edge between racing jurisdictions and reshaped the landscape of Australian spring programming.

In under a decade, The Everest has transformed into a race of enormous prestige. It blends elite sprinting talent, high-stakes decision-making and modern entertainment value in a way that has redefined what a flagship race can be. For many fans, it now sits alongside the Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper as one of the essential events on the Australian racing calendar.