V’Landys fumes as Everest status keeps race from world’s best list

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The Everest would have been 14th on the list of top-100, which had the VRC Sprint Classic, won by Bivouac, as the highest Australian group 1 at a rating of 120.5.

The standard for becoming a group 1 race is a three-year average of more than 115, which The Everest easily passes in just its fourth year.

However, Racing Victoria has used its veto power, which Racing NSW also holds in Australia, to stop The Everest from being given group 1 status.

Racing NSW has refused to be a part of the process since because of Racing Victoria’s stance and V’landys points to the Victorians wanting to shut Sydney out of the spring as the reason.

“It is for commercial reasons, it is for no other reason than they are trying to protect their spring,” V’landys said. “That’s why the system is damaged.

“It’s wrong, but everyone in racing knows it is the number one event as far as quality in Australia.”

Godolphin middle-distance star Ghaiyyath, which won the Coronation Cup, Eclipse Stakes and Juddmonte International, was named the world’s best horse with a rating of 130.

Meanwhile, Nature Strip, which was rated 124 internationally, and Bivouac capped the Sydney part of their preparation for next month’s Lightning Stakes at Flemington in a Rosehill barrier trial on Wednesday.

James McDonald let the free-running Nature Strip roll along to win the barrier trial from a closing Bivouac, but it remains unclear if the top jockey will travel to Melbourne to ride the star sprinter on February 13.

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Under the current rules and protocols in Victoria, McDonald would have to serve a six-day Covid quarantine period coming from NSW to ride on Lightning day.

He will consult with Nature Strip’s trainer Chris Waller whether to make the trip or stay in Sydney for the Apollo Stakes on the same day where Verry Elleegant will return after an impressive second barrier trial on Wednesday.

“Nature Strip is right on track for the Lightning, we just have to see what rules say about James getting down there,” Waller said. “I was very happy with Verry Elleegant and she will return on the same day in Sydney as will most of the nice horses that have now had two trials for us.”