Smart three year old Menari has staked his claim for a slot in $10m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 14 with a brilliant first up win in the Rosebud last Saturday.

Menari, above, scores impressive win in the Rosebud at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Menari, above, scores impressive win in the Rosebud at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said that Menari would not be out of place up against the older sprinters in the weight for age The Everest after showing he has emerged as one of the top line three year olds with his one and a quarter lengths win over Siege Of Quebec in the Listed $150,000 Smithfield RSL Club Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

“I have an inkling Menari is a sprinter and I wouldn’t be frightened of taking on open class horses at weight-for-age with him,’’ Ryan said.

“He’s a big, strong colt, an exciting horse. He’s very good. I’m thinking The Everest.’’

“I was happy to see him win so well, you just like to see them come back and do it.’’

“At home he has been doing it but you want them to produce on race day and that was impressive.”

Ryan will keep Menari racing against his own age first and run the Snitzel colt in the Group 1 $1m De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose over 1400m at Rosehill on September 23 before taking on all comers in The Everest.

“There is three weeks between the Golden Rose and The Everest so he could certainly do both,’’ Ryan said.

Ryan was happy with the way Menari spelled following a tough 2017 Sydney Autumn Carnival campaign and he expects the colt to take huge improvement, fitness wise, out of the Rosebud win.

“He did have three hard runs on heavy tracks during the autumn and that took a bit of a toll on him. But he went to his owner, George Altomonte’s Corumbene Stud to spell and they looked after him sensationally,’ Ryan said.

“We had to bring him back in a couple of weeks earlier than we had planned because he was doing too well in the paddock. He has come back a much more relaxed horse, more focused, and the exciting thing is he has nice improvement to come.’’

Menari scored on debut in a 1100m two year old Plate at Randwick in January and earned himself a start in the Group 1 $3.5m Longines Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill when he ran a creditable fourth to She Will Reign on a very heavy track.

Early betting for The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au has Menari marked at $13 alongside of the Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Houtzen, Galaxy winner Russian Revolution and English flyer Battaash.

Randwick 1200m specialist Chautauqua sits at the top of the market order at $4.60 just ahead of Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign with English and Winx together on $11.

Early market order for the 2017 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.60 Chautauqua, $6.50 She Will Reign, $11 Winx, English, $13 Battaash, Russian Revolution, Black Heart Bart, Lankan Rupee, Bound For Nowhere, Black Heart Bart, Global Glamour, Lankan Rupee, $41 Derryn, $51 or better the rest.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.