Inglis isn’t panicking about the need for a last-minute switch to fill its Everest slot after Skybird was officially ruled out of the $20 million race due to injury.
The auction house, which has been a slot holder in The Everest since its inception in 2017, had been facing the likelihood of the Mitch Freedman-trained Group 1-winning mare being sidelined after she pulled up lame from last week’s Manikato Stakes in Melbourne.
The Ballarat-based Freedman confirmed on Wednesday that Skybird would not be fit to run in the October 18 Everest at Randwick.
Inglis and connections of the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner had only confirmed their Everest partnership a day prior to the feature Moonee Valley sprint, which was won by Charm Stone, who also looms as a possible late Everest contender, and who had a 10 per share sold for $310,000 on Inglis Digital last week.
Five-year-old Skybird finished second last, beaten 7.6 lengths, in the $2 million Manikato, with a post-race veterinary inspection deeming her to be lame in the left foreleg.
Racing Victoria stewards also ordered her to barrier trial before she races again, adding to the burden to have Skybird in peak condition, which Freedman ultimately determined was not possible in time for lucrative Sydney race.
Despite the significant inconvenience, it’s not the first time Inglis Bloodstock chief executive Sebastian Hutch has faced such a scenario.
In 2022, Inglis secured Snapdancer for the race, but the mare was withdrawn less than a fortnight out for the race.
“When it was effectively decided that Snapdancer wouldn't take her place in The Everest, it was on the public holiday Monday, 12 days out from the race, and I think within 48 hours we'd come to an arrangement with Jamie Walter for Private Eye to run the slot,” Hutch told The Straight.
“It was very timely because he'd won the Gilgai impressively on the Saturday and a few weeks prior we'd sold a 5 per cent share on the horse to a new client on Inglis Digital and it became an excellent story.
“He ran second in the race, got beaten a whisker by Giga Kick, he won the Winners Stakes and he's been a great advertisement for Inglis Digital since then.
“So, it's not an alien position for us to find ourselves in.”
Hutch had been hopeful that Skybird could have been the horse to run for Inglis, but with confirmation that she won't be taking her place, Inglis staff are set to pay close attention to the Premiere Stakes in Sydney and the Gilgai in Melbourne for potential alternatives.
"While it is disappointing not to have Skybird represent Inglis in the race, the decision has been made in the best interests of the mare," Inglis said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.
"We wish Skybird, Mitch Freedman and her owners all the best and look forward to seeing her back at the races in due course.
"Inglis will now reassess plans for our slot."
Tim Rowe
Godolphin has Beiwacht, the emphatic Golden Rose winner, three-year-old filly Tempted who ran third in the Group 1 at the weekend behind the Bivouac colt as well as Tentyris who could all potentially fill its Everest slot.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Tentyris is slated to resume in Saturday’s Group 2 Danehill Stakes against his own age, with a strong performance putting the Everest firmly in contention.
It is the same race Giga Kick won in 2022 on his way to winning that year’s edition of the lucrative race for owner-breeder Jonathan Munz and slot holder James Harron Bloodstock.
Beiwacht’s trainer Chris Waller seems more likely to want to focus on the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington with the Bivouac colt, while the Coolmore could also be Tentyris’ main aim rather than heading to The Everest in between.
Therefore, the Ciaron Maher-trained Tempted, who was a dominant winner first-up in the Run To The Rose, could be Godolphin’s number one seed.
Godolphin's racing and bloodstock manager Jason Walsh said they would not be rushed into a decision on the slot.
"(Tempted's) come out of the race well, but she's tightened up a bit for a very hotly contested 1400m race, so Ciaron has to be happy with her early next week," Walsh told The Straight.
"And Beiwacht's obviously put himself in the frame with his performance last weekend, but we are likely learning towards the Coolmore with him.
"As with all the decisions we make, we're ultimately going to be guided by what we think suits each individual horse and the path that they're on."
Coolmore and Mike Gregg’s Mulberry Racing are also yet to lock in a runner for this year’s race.
Warwick Barr
