Gytrash, one of only two horses trained outside of New South Wales to make the 2021 The Everest field (The inferno is the other), is back for another bite at the cherry after finishing third behind Classique Legend and Bivouac in the race last year.
On that occasion Gytrash had all of Trekking, Nature Strip, Libertini and Eduardo behind him … they all line up again this year … and if he can replicate that sort of effort, he will have every chance of being a big factor in the outcome.
Trainer Gordon Richards, who now trains in partnership with Damien Moyle, had indicated pre-barrier draw that he didn’t really want barrier one but, as Gytrash was the last runner’s name to be called at the draw and there was obviously only one barrier left … the stable had no choice but to accept pole position.
“People have a think about barrier one these days,” said Richards, talking to Sky Racing after The Everest barrier draw. “Barrier one used to be considered a good barrier, but these days people shy away from it … but given a choice of ten, eleven, twelve or one, I’d take barrier one every time.
‘Last year he drew seven and might have got sandwiched a been a little bit slow early. On Saturday, hopefully, he will be running about fifth or sixth. It is not just about saying that there is going to be a stack of speed on and thinking there may not be … there will be!
“They won’t slow down in front … and especially those out wide … they will have to dig up.
“He drew barrier one in The Shorts the other day and he should get a very similar run with an extra half-a-furlong, which is right up his alley.”
And the forecast for some rain in Sydney doesn’t hold any fears for Richards.
“How good is that! My prayers have been answered,” said Richards. “It’s fantastic. They are talking about a lot of rain on Thursday … so, yeah, the give in the ground is great for him.
“I think he is going as well as he was going twelve months ago. He had a very ordinary trial the other day, but he can do that. He is going to have a good gallop on the grass tomorrow morning at Warwick Farm.
“The penny is just starting to drop now as to how big this race is,” continued Richards. “It is just the greatest race you can aim for. Last year it was probably a novelty for us, but this time we’ve had twelve months preparing for it … and we’re on song.
“He is cheery-ripe.”