There are differing views on whether the new $10 million The Everest will be of any benefit to a stud-aspiring colt.
Obviously there are reasons why The Everest does not immediately appeal to connections of a potentially valuable colt.
Firstly, the race is not technically recognised as holding any stakes status despite its exorbitant prizemoney. Due to a variety of hurdles it may be several years before The Everest attains Group I status even though it now has a monumental presence on the Australian Turf Calendar.
Secondly, as the race is run relatively early in the season, most of the newly-turned three-year-old colts have next to no experience in weight-for-age company – to say nothing of how notoriously difficult it is beating older horses during the spring.
But as Albert Einstein once said: "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity" – something trainer Gerald Ryan espouses when he speaks of his exciting colt Menari, which also happens to be an overwhelming favourite to win Saturday's $1 million Group I Golden Rose (1200m).
"If he could beat older horses at this time of year in a race like the Everest I would think it would definitely enhance his value, any colt's value," Ryan said.
"As someone said to me recently, not only Australia will be watching The Everest – it will be watched worldwide.
"And being the first running of the race, people will sit up and take notice.
"This race will have the best sprinters on offer in Australia – whether it's a Group I or not – it will attract the best of the best."
For the more conservative, the Group I Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington later in the carnival remains ripe for the picking and has become one of the most prestigious races for the archetypal Australian-bred stallion.
But as Ryan argues, would defeat in the Coolmore Stud Stakes be any more consequential than defeat in the Everest?
"Even if you run third in The Everest – it's certainly not going to take value off any colt – not in a race like that," Ryan said.
"But if you run third in a Coolmore it's not going to add any value to you either, in fact I think you've got more hope of adding value by running third in The Everest."
Peter Snowden is another trainer who has a wealth of experience in preparing expensive colts for expectant clients.
However, the master horseman is of the belief that colts will continue to shy away from The Everest until it is made a Group I.
"No matter what the race is worth, until it's a Group I race it won't be recognised as a stallion making race because if you have a colt the Coolmore is more attractive than The Everest," Snowden said.
"It's a three-year-old Group I race down the straight and that holds precedence with colts.
"The Everest is a new race, it'll end up being a Group I but it will be a few years before that happens."
As for now, no colt has been confirmed for next month's blockbuster sprint while import Brave Smash is currently the sole entire (Spieth is shortlisted).
Only time will tell if an Everest-winning colt's value increases commensurate with winning a Group I in the same season, especially when you consider the plethora of options already available to high quality colts before they become money making machines at stud.
