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Vega Magic Takes Over as Favourite for The Everest at Sportsbet!

Written on the 13 October 2017

The much anticipated Everest - the world's richest race on turf, with a prize purse of $10M is now only a nose away. Tomorrow, hooves will be pounding and hearts will be racing over who will take ownership of the $320,000 diamond-encrusted trophy.

The outsider, Vega Magic, currently at $4.80 with Sportsbet has now taken the favourite position away from She Will Reign.

Betting agencies are being swamped with wagers on The Everest. Bluebet owner Michael Sullivan believes Vega Magic or Chautauqua ($5.50) will start favourite as punters prefer proven form over the potential of She Will Reign.

Three-year-old filly She will Reign has been the favourite since her impressive return victory in last month's Moir Stakes, but Vega Magic took over on Thursday after a series of big bets were made to drive the gelding to $4.80 favourite.

"She will Reign has probably been the horse that has cost us more money than any other in the past six months, but I think we can get it back in this race," Sullivan said. "The serious punters are coming for Vega Magic and Chautauqua.

"The filly will still go around a loser for us but she is the one we can take risks with because she is taking on the best sprinters in the land and is still a baby.

"This is the biggest betting race outside the Melbourne Cup for us already this year and we're only just starting to see the big money roll in and it is all for the horses that have been there done that.

"It wouldn't surprise me if Chautauqua is favourite when they jump, just because of his record at Randwick and what he has done in the TJ Smith for the past three years."

Vega Magic's co-trainer David Hayes is pleased how the former West Australian sprinter has settled into Sydney and travelled on his right leg.

Since joining the Lindsay Park team, Vega Magic has been unbeaten in the last three runs, including the Goodwood and Memsie Stakes at Group 1 level.

Hayes has two other runners in The Everest - Redkirk Warrior ($9) and Tulip ($16). Although Vega Magic has had impressive runs recently, Hayes is not ruling out Redkirk Warrior.

"I hope the punters are good judges but I'm finding it hard to split Vega and Redkirk Warrior," Hayes said. "They are both in great shape and at the price from the better barrier I would probably lean to Redkirk Warrior. "I can't understand why there is so much between in the betting," Hayes said.

She Will Reign is still equal favourite with Vega Magic at the TAB as punters get top odds about their favourite sprinters.

"It is an amazing betting race," TAB's Glen Munsie said. "The hype surrounding this race has it holding more than the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups combined and we have been betting on them for 12 months.

"Our customers know the form inside-out and they are prepared to back their judgement. She Will Reign and Chautauqua are the two most popular horses in our book, but they are every time they go around. Our customers love horses that just keep winning.

"Unlike most big races because the money is spread around all the horses and we are still writing plenty of bets on horses like Redzel, Clearly Innocent and Houtzen because punters are seen odds about them have been seen before."

UBET's Gerard Daffy said the interest in The Everest was "staggering".

"Clearly Vega Magic and Chautauqua are the most popular for us, and Houtzen because of its Queensland connection," said Daffy.

(Photo: The Everest trophy - Photo source: msn.com)


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Authorised Representative
(AR 001 272 774) under the TTSC's AFSL (288-213)