Trainer Michael Freedman’s promising young sprinter, Ninja, has been confirmed as the inaugural participant for the $20 million TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick next month.
A deal has been successfully negotiated with slot-holder John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds, guaranteeing Ninja a spot in the world’s most lucrative turf race on October 17.
Ninja, who made a brilliant return to racing with a victory in the Missile Stakes last month, is co-owned by My Racehorse and Camilleri, who also bred the gelding and retained a share.
With the Everest just six weeks away, Ninja is the first of the twelve sprinters to officially secure a starting position.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong’s highly-touted sprinter Ka Ying Rising is set to compete in the Group 3 Chief Executive’s Cup at Sha Tin on Sunday. If all goes to plan, he will enter quarantine after the race and be confirmed for the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s slot.
Freedman commented that the Everest deal for Ninja provides him with much-needed “clarity” as he prepares the four-year-old for the major sprint at Randwick.
“I mentioned to John before Ninja even ran in the Missile that I was really happy with how he is going,” Freedman said. “Of course, John is a breeder and part-owner of Ninja and he just said let’s wait and see how he goes first-up.
“Then, The Everest became a realistic option so now he’s locked in, we can plot a path to the race.
“It’s nice to have that clarity but to be fair if he didn’t get a slot, I was planning to get him ready for the Sydney Stakes on the same day.”
Camilleri expressed his delight with the arrangement that has secured Ninja a start in The Everest.
“I have had my heart set on him for a few months now,” Camilleri said.
“I’ve always thought he was more a sprinter rather than a mile.
“So, we have come full circle in a way. I bred the horse, retained a share in him and now he can run in the Fairway Thoroughbreds slot with My Racehorse.”
Ben Willis, the managing director of My Racehorse, noted that Ninja has an extensive ownership group, comprising 1700 part-owners.
“What The Everest has done is create conversation, innovation and has brought a new fan base into racing,” Willis commented.
“When you look here on Everest Day, it is filled with a young audience and new people to the sport.
“There are great synergies with what we have tried to develop from about five years ago when we first launched and that is to bring a new audience into racing.
“To have a horse running in a $20 million race, the world’s richest race on turf, is pretty special for My Racehorse.
“It validates what we are trying to do from a product perspective and that is to provide an opportunity to run in the best races in the world.”
In the initial TAB Fixed Odds betting for The Everest, Ka Ying Rising is the dominant $1.50 favourite, with Tempted at $9, Guest House at $11, Joliestar at $13, and Ninja at $15.
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