Trainer Gerald Ryan is thinking Australia's richest race with his quality three-year-old Menari after he made an emphatic statement with victory in the $150,000 Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Immediately after the race Ryan was asked if the $1m Golden Rose (1400m) on September 23 was the likely target for Menari.
"I'm thinking Everest," he said. "I think he's a sprinter and we'll play it by ear and see where we go with him.
"Good horse, good horse."
The $10m The Everest (1200m) will be run at Randwick on October 14 and currently six of the 12 slots are spoken for with the likes of Chautauqua, English and She Will Reign confirmed runners.
Menari lumped equal topweight of 60.5kg on Saturday and was ridden patiently by Josh Parr, who summed things up shortly after the start.
"He jumped well but the fly in the ointment was always going to be Lightz and I wasn't sure if I would be going forward or back," he said.
"When it went forward I thought, no, no, come back and get some cover and switch him off rather than jamming him with 60.5kg."
Parr and Menari drifted back toward the tail of the eight-horse field and charted a three-wide course while Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's colt Siege Of Quebec led the way.
In the straight, Menari ($3.70) cruised up to tackle Siege Of Quebec ($2.90 fav) inside the 200m before forging away to record a 1-1/4 length victory with another length back to the James Cummings-trained Trekking ($4.80) in third place.
"He's an exceptionally talented horse," Parr said.
"I know it sounds a little bit arrogant but I was so confident his ability could overcome the (perceived on-pace) bias of the track today.
"He's as good as anything I've sat on. I won't say anymore."
Ryan said Menari would progress to the $150,000 Group III San Domenico Stakes (1100m) on August 26.
"I reckon he's got nice improvement in him and regardless of today's result he drops to 56kg next time for the San Domenico," he said.
"You always want to see them come back and do it. He did that today and did it as well as you could have wished.
"He's come back very well, a much more relaxed and focused horse. He's a very good horse."
