Joe Pride has experienced just about every emotion possible on Everest day.
The Warwick Farm trainer has ridden the rollercoaster of placings with Private Eye and Eduardo to the pressure of expectation, then relief and joy in 2023 when Think About It won the $20 million showpiece. He then had fear – and ultimately relief, when Think About It collapsed the following year in the consolation race, the Sydney Stakes, only to recover and walk away to retirement.
Trainer Joe Pride after winning The Everest in 2023 with Think About It.Credit: Getty
On Saturday, Pride is relishing the chance to fly under the radar with a team of underdogs in the main races. Mazu, the last horse picked, was a $126 (Sportsbet) chance for The Everest (1200m), Ceolwulf was $10 for his title defence in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m), while Golden Mile ($8), Coal Crusher ($31) and Dragonstone ($34) were in the $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m).
“Lovely. Yeah, it’s nowhere near the same level of pressure,” Pride said of this year’s Everest compared to 2023.
“That year, obviously, I had Think About It and [third-placed] Private Eye, and honestly, I couldn’t split them. And I think if the race had been run differently, I could even make a case for Private Eye winning. So I went in there with a double-barrel assault, and you should never do this, but I fully expected to win the race – which is foolish.
“This year it’s much easier. And I think this is a sixth year running that we’ve had runners in the race, so it’s a good achievement for a stable the size we are. I’m not going to say we’re a hot chance in the race, but I think he’ll beat more home than beat him home.”
Eduardo (green silks) takes third behind Nature Strip in the 2021 Everest.Credit: Getty
Pride expected Mazu, with gate two, to repeat his runs in the Shorts and Premiere Stakes, where he was fourth and third respectively, and lead the field. He hoped for a soft track to help Mazu produce his best.
He admitted an Everest call-up was in his thoughts for Mazu, which was picked this week as Yulong’s replacement for the injured Private Harry.
