Haut Brion Her Lands Last Everest Slot
The final piece of The Everest jigsaw has been put in place with Sydney mare Haut Brion Her securing the last spot in the elite field.
The announcement was made on Monday when it was also revealed she would be representing her owner/breeder Three Bridges Thoroughbreds after they purchased the 2020 Everest slot held by Chris Waller Racing.
Waller is the trainer of Haut Brion Her, giving him two runners in the $15 million race at Randwick on Saturday with stablemate Nature Strip to represent the slot held by the TAB.
“It’s incredibly exciting for the whole Waller Racing team to see two of our stable stars line up as genuine chances in the 2020 Everest,” Waller said.
“Haut Brion Her has shown her brilliant speed this preparation with a superb win in the Sheraco Stakes and I know she is capable of giving this race a shake up.”
Haut Brion Her is lightly-raced and has won six of her 10 starts, including the Sheraco Stakes at Rosehill last month when she showed sustained speed.
Her time of 1:09.05 for the 1200m was less than half a second outside the track record.
Brenton Avdulla has been booked for the ride.
Waller is also satisfied with the progress of Nature Strip following his disappointing last-start fourth to Libertini in the Premiere Stakes.
The trainer initially felt the sprinter had gone too hard in front but a subsequent scope of Nature Strip revealed mucus in his trachea.
Waller admitted he was relieved the discover the multiple Group One winner had a genuine excuse.
“To find the mucus I think was significant,” Waller said.
Nature Strip has since been treated and has responded well.
He worked strongly on Saturday and will do his final piece of work on Tuesday, ahead of the Everest barrier draw later in the evening.
Nature Strip is on the third line of TAB fixed odds Everest betting at $6 with Haut Brion Her the outsider of the 12-horse field at $26.