Everest betting suspended after barrier draw conducted in private

Racing NSW has suspended betting on The Everest after conducting the barrier draw for Saturday’s $13 million race in private before it is revealed on the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday night.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys took the decision to conduct the draw on Tuesday morning prior to the barrier draw function to circumvent any security risks as the fallout from use of the Opera House to promote the race continues.

Drawing reveal: Betting has been suspended on The Everest after the barrier draw  was done in private on Tuesday morning.

Drawing reveal: Betting has been suspended on The Everest after the barrier draw was done in private on Tuesday morning.

A video was taken of the draw by Racing NSW stewards for audit purposes on Tuesday morning.

"The draw was done within our normal protocols on Tuesday morning and only myself and my deputy Philip Dingwall know the results," Racing NSW chief steward Marc Van Gestel said.

"It will be kept secure until it is released to the public on the Opera House tonight."

Betting had to be suspended from noon on Tuesday to avoid any perceived integrity risk, and Racing NSW stewards will advise wagering operators when they may recommence betting on the $13 million race on Tuesday night.

BetEasy had Trapeze Artist, Vega Magic and defending champion Redzel as $7 equal favourites when betting was suspended.

Controversy has raged ever since it emerged the Opera House was going to be used to help promote The Everest, which is billed as the world's richest turf race and is a massive drawcard for tourism in NSW.

Broadcaster Alan Jones was accused of bullying in an on-air interview with Opera House chief executive Louise Herron, an accusation he initially refuted before publicly apologising.

Sydney Morning Herald columnist Peter FitzSimons also strongly vented his feelings on the matter, while The Chaser comedians managed to beam their own message onto the Opera House's famous sails in a stunt on Monday evening.

The controversial Opera House projection is due to take place at 8pm on Tuesday, when the barrier draw for The Everest will be projected on the Opera House sails.

Nearly 3000 people are also expected to attend a protest at that time to disrupt the Everest projection with torches and mobile phone lights.

On his Tuesday morning show, Jones said the protest should not go ahead.

2018 THE EVEREST FIELD

1 REDZEL Kerrin McEvoy 58.5kg
2 SANTA ANA LANE Ben Melham 58.5
3 LE ROMAIN Glyn Schofield 58.5
4 TRAPEZE ARTIST Tye Angland 58.5
5 VEGA MAGIC Damien Oliver 58.5
6 BRAVE SMASH (JPN) Hugh Bowman 58.5
7 HOME OF THE BRAVE (IRE) Tommy Berry 58.5
8 U S NAVY FLAG (USA) Ryan Moore 58.0
9 IN HER TIME Corey Brown 56.5
10 SHOALS Tim Clark 56.5
11 VIDDORA Joe Bowditch 56.5
12 GRAFF Brenton Avdulla 53.0
Emergencies (to be selected by the slot-holder)
13 CLEARLY INNOCENT 58.5
14 DOTHRAKI 58.5
15 JUNGLE EDGE 58.5
16 PIERATA 58.5
17 OSBORNE BULLS 58.5
18 SPRIGHT 56.5

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