Speedster Hawaii Five Oh chasing Everest glory

Big-money horse races always tend to bring in the biggest runners and riders and once again in 2023, it is the humungous prize purse associated with The Everest that is generating attention.

12 of the quickest horses on the planet are set to do battle at Royal Randwick on October 14th and Hawaii Five Oh is the latest pick to be declared. 

The big races within the Australian horse racing schedule continue to come in thick and fast and few are bigger than The Everest at Royal Randwick.

With a A$600,000 entry fee and A$20 million in the prize pool, there is so much for punters to get behind and all of the biggest Aussie bookmakers are fully invested for The Everest in 2023.

Giga Kicked-out

Much to the surprise of many punters and bookmakers, 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick has not been declared for the race in 2023 – meaning there will be a new winner on the trophy.

Under the experienced reigns of James McDonald, Giga Kick was in imperious form in 2022 and looked set to be able to repeat the feat in 2023 but connections have looked elsewhere in their pursuit of the big prize purse.

Such is the prestige of the race that with only 12 horses lining up in the paddock at the outset, owners and trainers need to be very specific about their selections for a race of this magnitude and Giga Kick has been given the proverbial boot as a result.

Big money challengers

The A$20 million prize pot is always key draw for the biggest and best in Australian racing and that remains the case in 2023.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott always have plenty of potential rides lined up for The Everest and for the connections of Hawaii Five Oh, being selected for this race is a real compliment.

However, the challenge of the Everest cannot be understated, with the race a huge draw not only with Australian bookmakers but with by plenty of international betting sites too.

Big name picks such as I Wish I Win and Think About It have been picking up plenty of wins and prize money this season and their presence on the race card is sure to be noted by all involved with Hawaii Five Oh.

History beckons

Despite having only been on the Australian horse racing calendar since 2017, The Everest already has plenty of prestige within the world racing schedule.

A 1200m dash at Royal Randwick, the race is over in a flash, but it is deemed to be the ultimate test in speed. Adding to the grandeur of the race is the fact that only 12 horses line up – all competing for one of the biggest prize pools in world horse racing.

For Hawaii Five Oh, triumphing in this race would be a seismic achievement, for a 4-year-old that has long been seen as a serious talent but as yet, has struggled to maximise it.

Previous winners of The Everest include Redzel, Yes Yes Yes and Nature Strip, testament to the importance of the race in the Australian horse racing fraternity.

It promises to be another epic battle on Saturday 14th October at Royal Randwick for the 7th annual staging of The Everest and Hawaii Five Oh promises to be a horse to keep an eye on.

Speculation always mounts at this time of year, with The Everest the key race in the thoughts of every Australian horse racing punter, owner, and trainer.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have declared Hawaii Five Oh as one of their selections for the race, which carries an incredible A$20 million prize pot in 2023 and promises to be a contest to remember at Royal Randwick on Saturday 14th October.