The horse to beat in The Everest, according to Mark Zahra

Superstar jockey Mark Zahra believes Growing Empire is the horse to beat in The Everest.

Acknowledging that this year’s edition of the race is one of the most even he’s seen since its inception, Zahra believes the record of the three-year-olds in the 1200m sprint is significant in his assessment.

Growing Empire, racing in the Yulong slot, heads into Saturday’s feature three weeks between runs after a gallant runners-up performance in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes where he was pipped on the line by Southport Tycoon.

Zahra - who has ridden Growing Empire to victory twice this preparation - believes he'll be mighty hard to beat with very little weight on his back under Kerrin McEvoy.

“It’s definitely an even year, you don’t look at it and pick one horse out that looks to have the race at its mercy,” Zahra told SENTrack.

“For me, I’ve always made it known that I think Growing Empire is a very good horse and will probably end up being one of the best sprinters in the country.

“Three-year-olds have a good record and he’s the one to beat for me and then you look at I Wish I Win who is the other horse that is proven and if he’s going as good this prep I’m not really sure but he’s definitely not going bad but he’s the one that’s proven and if there’s a bit of rain about it won’t hurt his chances.

“As I said, it’s pretty even but I’ll go with the three-year-old as the one to beat for me.”

Zahra will ride Giga Kick in the $20 million feature and he got to sit on sprinters back at Randwick on Tuesday morning.

“We got the work in but it was absolutely pouring down,” Zahra added.

“His work was good, I was impressed with him this morning.

“He’s a nice horse, he’s not keen but strong enough in his work and the track would’ve been heavy by the time we got onto it and he had no worries with the ground and his work was good.

“We sat off the stablemate and picked him up so if his work is anything to go by he’ll run well.

“If you watch his last start again, he wasn’t that bad going through the line and the horse had a year off with an injury and the horse might’ve been a touch flat second-up.

“For me, I go by what the trainer says and Clayton has been upbeat ever since I’ve got the ride and I’ve been speaking to him all along and his work this morning has everything lining up for him to run really well on Saturday.”

The barrier draw for the world's richest race on turf will be released on Tuesday night (8:15PM).