Coolmore Australia’s Tom Magnier has described the decision between rising stars Storm Boy and Switzerland for their coveted slot in The Everest as one of the hardest he’s faced in racing. Both three-year-olds are brimming with potential, but in the end, Storm Boy, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, got the nod.
Switzerland, who impressed in the Roman Consul Stakes, will now target the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington after benefiting from an extra week’s rest. “Switzerland was so impressive last Saturday, but we felt the colt would benefit from an extra week before the Coolmore Stud Stakes,” said Magnier.
Storm Boy, who has been trained specifically for The Everest, will be ridden by Brenton Avdulla, flying in from Hong Kong for the race. The Waterhouse-Bott stable is confident that Storm Boy, alongside stablemate Lady Of Camelot, is peaking at the right time. “He has had a nice freshen up, and the three weeks between runs has worked out really well,” said Adrian Bott.
Storm Boy will now join an elite 12-horse field for the $20 million Everest on Saturday where he is a $15 chance with betting apps in Australia.