The Everest gives Angland renewed ambition

Tom Walter - Thursday October 12

For jockeys like Tye Angland the $10 million Everest is a realistic alternative to climbing the bona fide pinnacle of racing – the Melbourne Cup.

Advertisement
Fell Swoop runs for Inglis in the first edition of The Everest at Randwick on Saturday.
Photo: Darryl Sherer

Angland, who stands close to six feet tall and seldom weighs less than 56kg, has scarce opportunity to ride in the Melbourne Cup as most runners are handicapped below 55kg.

"I've only ridden in one, finished 11th on Opinion a couple of years ago," Angland said.

"It is hard for me to pick up a ride in the Melbourne Cup because of my weight."

The Everest on the other hand, is a weight-for-age contest, and worth $2.2 million more to the winner than Australia's signature race.

Angland's mount in the inaugural running of The Everest is the Matt Dale-trained Fell Swoop, suitably weighted at 59kg.

Fell Swoop is considered one of the rank outsiders in the field of 12 at odds as high as $67 but ask Angland if he cares.

"It's only a number," Angland said.

"It's always nice to look at the paper and see you're on a horse that's single figure odds but in reality, it doesn't matter once the gates open.

"I just try to focus on my horse and giving it the best chance to beat the opposition."

The Canberra-based galloper, which will run as the representative for auction house Inglis, has the longest winless sequence in the race, stretching back to April 2016, but has been placed five times at Group I level, including a second and third behind Chautauqua in the last two editions of the TJ Smith Stakes which is run over the Everest course.

And for the first time in his career, Fell Swoop will race with winkers on, a gear change that could prove the missing ingredient for the six-year-old gelding.

"He's the roughie in the race but he doesn't have to improve much to win," Angland said.

"Hopefully winkers just get that little bit more out of him.

"He's stood up every time in a high pressure 1200m at Randwick and I'm confident he's going to run a big race third-up.

"I don't want to focus too much on the money but I want to get the job done.

"It could be career changing for a jockey like myself considering the international coverage of the race."

Angland has been riding in inspired form since the season renewed on August 1, annexing two Group Is among 22 other winners state-wide.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Hong Kong Buyer Secures Top Lot June (Late) Sale at $500,000
The impact of the recent success in Hong Kong of horses sourced on Inglis Digital was in evidence today, with the top lot and the third top lot bought by Hong Kong-based owners.
Tassort Filly Too Classy at Randwick
Stakes-placed two starts back in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone, talented 2YO Tassort filly Wollzeile proved too classy at Randwick on Wednesday.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday June 25
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
One To Watch – Randwick
After impressing on debut, the Chris Waller trained 3yo Super Seth filly Frosty Girl (NZ) took on the older mares on the Kensington track, remaining unbeaten with another stylish victory to become Breednet’s One To Watch.