In terms of his horse and the preparation, The Everest has worked out perfectly for jockey Tim Clark with Shoals. But the date didn’t suit his biggest supporters, wife Jayde and daughter Ellie, who will have to watch from afar on Saturday.
Clark has known for a while he will be by himself on Everest day; missing out on family events can be part of the job description.
Soft-track specialist: Shoals and Tim Clark take out the Robert Sangster Stakes earlier in the year.Credit:AAP
“We got a wedding invitation and as soon as I saw the day I knew I wouldn't be able to go,” Clark said. “Jayde is going to Queensland for it, so she will be watching on her phone rather than being there.
“She wouldn’t miss something like this day usually, she's my biggest supporter.”
Clark had a long-standing commitment to ride Shoals, which picked up The Star slot several months ago. He has travelled to Melbourne to ride her in trials and the McEwen Stakes as part of the build-up to the $13 million race.
A three-time group 1 winner last season, Shoals raced into near favouritism when she charged home in the Premiere Stakes to beat all but stablemate Santa Ana Lane.
The Anthony Freedman pair were together at the back of the field turning for home with Santa Ana Lane taking inside runs, while Shoals came down the centre of the track.
“You could feel in the Premiere she just wanted to have a bit more give in the ground. The track was hard that day,” Clark said. “This track is going to be perfect for her on Saturday.
“I couldn’t be happier with her preparation, it has been faultless to get her to The Everest at her top.
“She has run in two races where they have set track records. She was good in the McEwen where she was off the bridle chasing a long way from home.
“In the Premiere, another stride I think we win, and half The Everest field was there.”
Clark is confident he will be a lot closer to the lead and more confortable on Shoals in the run on Saturday, especially after drawing gate two.
The heavy conditions should ensure there is not a tearaway speed and Clark wants to use his good draw to put Shoals into the race.
“She has tactical speed and is a good barrier horse,” Clark said. “I can see us being no worse than midfield and she has that big finish.
“A bit of the pressure has come out of the race and I can see them holding up for a long time on the wet track.
“She has certainly improved since two weeks ago and the rain means we get the softer track that suits her.”
Shoals is a winner over The Everest course of the 1200 metres at Randwick on a heavy track, but it's her unbeaten record in three runs on soft and heavy tracks that could be a bigger pointer.
She won the group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes on a soft track and as a two-year-old took out the Percy Sykes Stakes on a heavy Randwick.
“She loved the ground in Adelaide when we won the group 1 and really let go,” Clark said. “The wet doesn’t look to be a problem for a lot of them in The Everest, but for Shoals it is certainly a plus.”
She is on the second line of betting at $8, behind equal favourites Redzel, Trapeze Artist and Vega Magic at $7.
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