Modern Day Record For TAB Everest
October 16, 2023
A record-breaking crowd was on hand at Randwick to witness TAB Everest Day last Saturday, 14 October.
This year’s attendance of 46,498 people is a modern-day record at Royal Randwick, bettering last year’s benchmark patronage.
Trainer Joe Pride was the toast of Royal Randwick on a day that saw over $31million in prizemoney being offered on the track.
The Warwick Farm horseman was represented by two horses in the $20million TAB Everest and came away with first and third!
Emerging sprinting sensation Think About It notched his ninth straight win when given a peach of a ride by Sam Clipperton, bursting to the lead on straightening and then holding off second pick in the market, I Wish I Win.
Stablemate to the winner Private Eye was enormous in defeat once again, finishing third – his second consecutive placing in the world’s richest race on turf.
It was the biggest win of both Clipperton and Pride’s careers, with owners Proven Thoroughbreds having interests in both of the latter’s horses. It was also a huge thrill for slotholders Newgate Farms & GPI Racing, who had selected Think About It to race in their slot.
A few of the other highlights on TAB Everest Day included:
*I Am Me (James McDonald) producing a performance of stamina and speed to sit outside the lead and power away with the $2million Feel New Sydney Stakes. It was the mare’s ninth win from 16 career starts, extending her very impressive record for Ciaron Maher & Dave Eustace
*Fangirl blitzing her rivals in the inaugural $5million King Charles III Stakes, giving trainer Chris Waller a running double after he took out the Silver Eagle a race earlier
*Vienna Princess (Kerrin McEvoy) finishing powerfully to score an upset at double figure odds in the $1million Silver Eagle
*Front Page leading all-the-way again, just as he did in 2022, to claim the $2million Kosciuzsko for trainer Matthew Dunn and jockey Tyler Schiller
*Jockeys Tyler Schiller (Land Legend & Front Page), Kerrin McEvoy (Arctic Glamour & Vienna Princess) and James McDonald (I Am Me & Fangirl) all registering riding doubles on the day
*Land Legend becoming the first internationally-trained winner of the Moet & Chandon St Leger Stakes. James Ferguson prepared the four-year-old gelding.
*Thousands of racegoers remaining oncourse to witness an exclusive DJ set of Empire of the Sun in the Theatre of the Horse, as part of the popular ‘After The Last’ concert series
The Sydney Everest Carnival now turns its attention back to Royal Randwick next Saturday (21 October) for Spring Wild Card Day.