Sport Ted Ryan

The Joe Pride trained four-year-old, Think About It, has come right into calculations with a brilliant win in the Stradbroke Handicap making it seven wins on end.

He has already been backed right in at this stage with over four months until the big event.

The slots for the big race haven’t been decided as yet.

The winner of the Everest will earn $6.5 million, with second picking up $2,140,000, and third, $1,240,000.

The cost of an entry for the Everest, is $600,000 - a lot.

On the next line of betting is the top New Zealander, Imperatriz, prepared by leading Kiwi trainer, Mark Walker.

A winner of over $2 million in earnings, he proved too good for them in the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley on March 24.

Back to Overpass, he has always shown how good he is, but lost a bit of form, and in recent starts has shown his class.

After a brilliant win in the in the Quokka in W esternAustralia, beating the top-class Perth mare Amelia’s Jewel, and the Victorian mare Bella Nipotina.

Overpass then produced another top run running second to Giga Kick in the Doomben 10,000.

Another brilliant mare is the Sydneysider, In Secret, a recent winner of the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, ridden by the late jockey, Dean Holland.

She raced in the T.J.Smith Stakes , but they were a bit too good for her on the day.

She is better than that, but she has tough competition here.

The Chris Waller trained colt, Shinzo, by Snitzel, won the Golden Slipper in fine style after drawing the one barrier beating Cylinder and Kings Gambit and looked good.

However, he is up against the top echelon here. The James Cummings runner here, Aft

He the short trip. However, he showed a ton of heart, as McDonald took him to the extreme outside to win coming away, a big run.

He is good, but he meets the cream here. In the Stradbroke he didn’t have much luck and finished ninth. He is much better than that.

Then we have the Western Australian champion mare, Amelia’s Gem, who should have won the $4 million Quokka Classic at her last start.

She drew 16, the outside of the starters, and was last to the turn about 350 metres out, and flashed home for a great third. She is one of the best going around in Australia.

The champion sprinter Nature Strip is feeling his years, and it would appear he may not go around in the big one. He won it a couple of years ago.

Of the others you have some good gallopers, Mazu, What You Need, Private Eye and Opal

Ridge. What a race it will be, if they all go around, Giga Kick, who won it last year, I Wish I Win, and Think About It, are the main chances.

Kementari retired

■ Top galloper, Kementari , has run his last race.

Kementari, a beloved figure and fan favourite in the Godolphin stable, has been retired from racing.

He will now become the latest flagbearer for the Godolphin Lifetime Care Program. Kementari is a magnificent son of the mighty Lohnro, out of the multiple Group One producing mare Yavanna.

Kemenatari was a winner of six Group One races, including the G1 Randwick Guineas. Goldolphin’s Australian Racing Manager Jason Walsh said: “ Kementari is in great order, as always presents magnificently and is healthy, but regardless of that, our decision is still to retire him, following his run in the Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville.”

“Every indication he gave us at home was that he loved his training, and all his personality and character was still evident.

“After his extraordinary journey, Kementari will now take a well-deserved rest at Kelvinside, before beginning his new role as a flagbearer for Godolphin Lifetime Care”.

“The Flagbearer Program promotes the thoroughbred, its versatility and life after racing.

“The thoroughbred’s versatility, has been gaining increased acknowledgment evidenced by the recent announcement that the breed will be honoured and featured in several Olympic events this year.”

- Ted Ryan