Group 1 winner English has become the fifth confirmed starter for the 2017 The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 12th.

English is the fifth confirmed runner in this year's The Everest field. Photo: Steve Hart

English is the fifth confirmed runner in this year’s The Everest field. Photo: Steve Hart

The Encosta De Lago mare has been a standout for Gai Waterhouse throughout her entire racing career so far and will return to competition in spring with a commendable record of five wins and three minors, through seventeen career starts.

English has undoubtedly been at her best on the Randwick surface; winning the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1200m) and Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) twice at the venue, as well and consecutive minor-place finishes in the two most-recent editions of the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m).

Waterhouse is understandably thrilled that English has gained a position in The Everest field and told The Daily Telegraph that the mare is in excellent condition in the lead-up to her spring campaign.

“She is back in the stable and looks super,” Waterhouse said.

“She is a big, strong mare and her record at Randwick is outstanding.

“I think the form out of the TJ Smith Stakes is the right form for The Everest. It is not suprising to me that the three placegetters from that race are in The Everest now.”

English immediately stamped herself as a filly to follow when debuting to racing as a two-year-old in 2015; winning a talent-rich Kembla Grange race over 1000m by close to four lengths.

Making a successful transition to black type company when an easy winner of the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m), English placed a strong second behind stable mate Vancouver in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m), but had clearly had enough by the time she placed sixth in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

Kept away from racing during the subsequent Spring Carnival, English resumed in 2016 for her first Challenge Stakes win, before placing sixth in the Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) and third in the TJ Smith Stakes, leading into her All Aged Stakes triumph.

Failing to come up in last year’s spring season, the mare out of Court successfully defended her crown in the Challenge Stakes first-up this year, before placing seventh behind Russian Revolution in The Galaxy.

Appearing to have the TJ Smith Stakes won before being swooped in the race’s final throws by Chautauqua, English finished sixth in the All Aged Stakes and Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes (1200m) at her two most-recent appearances.

English is currently considered a $13 chance in early 2017 The Everest betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.

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Jared Timms

Jared graduated with a journalism degree in 2011. He is a keen sports fan and has enjoyed many accolades for his lively writing style and comprehensive coverage of major sporting events and horse racing. Today, you can find Jared cheering on his beloved Manchester City with a beer in hand.