STAR South Australian sprinter Gytrash will step up his $15m Everest preparations with a gallop at Royal Randwick on Friday morning.
Last year’s Everest placegetter will roll around alongside some big names after the Australian Turf Club made the decision to open the Randwick course proper for carnival contenders following an application from champion trainer Chris Waller.
Waller will gallop Verry Elleegant and Hungry Heart ahead of their return to racing in next week’s Winx Stakes while Annabel Neasham has her exciting pair of Zaaki and Mo’unga also stepping out.
Gytrash’s co-trainer Gordon Richards said the reports out of Sydney were all positive regarding the campaign.
“Everything is great,’’ Richards said
“He’ll have a gallop on the good grass there Friday morning and the plan is to then trial at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
“Everyone up there couldn’t be happier with him. They feel he’s better this year than he was last year. Let’s hope things fall into place and we’ll know a bit more after his trial next week,’’ he said.
Race rider Jason Collett will be in the saddle at Randwick after COVID forced him to move away from his base at Warwick Farm.
“He’s had to shift his address to Randwick due the COVID situation up there, so it will be good for him to be back aboard and good feel for where the horse is at,’’ Richards said.
Gytrash will have his first run under the new partnership of Richards and co-trainer Damien Moyle when he resumes in what is shaping as a star-studded Group 2 The Shorts at Randwick on September 18.
The race will also feature last year’s winner and subsequent Everest hero Classique Legend first-up since he was sent back to Australia and Queensland comeback galloper Rothfire who is sill to secure an Everest slot.
“It’s going to be some sort of race, a real dress rehearsal,’’ Richards said.
Richards said locally, Turfitt was his leading chance at Morphettville after a luckless run on the Parks track last time out.
“I think it maps well for her,’’ Richards said.
“She got too far back on the inner track last start. Out in distance looks idea and I think after bit of a break she can be a fair horse in the autumn,’’ he said.
