As soon as Jacquinot crossed the line to win the Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday, Coolmore Australia’s managing principal Tom Magnier was adamant he was his Everest horse.
The three-year-old produced a stunning late burst of speed from out wide to claim the $1 million feature over 1400m, and at that moment Magnier was sold.
The news was confirmed on Tuesday, and a delighted Magnier believes his colt is hitting his best form right in time for the $15 million feature at Randwick on October 15.
“As soon as he crossed the line, we were pretty much convinced he was the horse that we wanted,” Magnier told Sky Racing.
“He’s been a special horse, and Mick Price has always been telling the owners that this horse is very special.
“But I suppose when you watch the way he ran at the weekend, it was a superb effort.
“I don’t think many horses came through the back, and he was very impressive.”
Magnier is pinching himself at the fact he has another genuine Everest hopeful after Yes Yes Yes won the world’s richest race on turf for his stud farm in 2019.
Yes Yes Yes and Jacquinot are both sired by Rubick, a Coolmore stud star now at Swettenham Stud in Victoria.
“It’s a great credit to the stallion (Rubick) and it’s great for the farm. Obviously, Yes Yes Yes’ stock has been very good at the farm,” Magnier said.
“We’re really happy with his progeny. I always say the day Yes Yes Yes won the Everest – I probably put it as No.1 on my racing moments.”
With such impressive genes combined with the courage he showed to win the Golden Rose, Magnier believes his $11 winning chance with Ladbrokes for The Everest can compete with Chris Waller’s superstar and the best sprinter in the world, Nature Strip.
“I’d say Nature Strip is going to be very hard to beat. But like everything, horses can have off days,” he said.
“I remember watching Nature Strip at Ascot and thinking ‘wow – he’s the best sprinter in the world’.
“So it would be a very brave statement of me to say that we can beat him.
“But I think this horse will be close late, and he’s got a massive chance of being thereabouts at The Everest.”
Jacquinot is paying around $10 in early markets with the top horse racing betting sites in Australia.
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