Group 1 Gurus: Who to back in the The Everest, Caulfield Cup & why?

We’ve finally made it! It’s officially The Everest and Caulfield Cup week.

The Caulfield Racecourse sees the running of two Group 1s – the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Thousand Guineas (1600m), while Randwick Racecourse also features two Group 1s – The Everest (1200m) and King Charles III (1600m).

The Everest is the world’s richest race on turf and was won by Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising last year (2025), followed by Bella Nipotina (2024), Think About It (2023), Giga Kick (2022), and Nature Strip (2021).

And the Caulfield Cup is one of the premiere handicaps in Australia and boasts a prize pool of $6 million. It was previously won by Half Yours (2025), Duke De Sessa (2024), Without A Fight (2023), Durston (2022), and Incentivise (2021).

Both Ka Ying Rising and Half Yours are looking to go back-to-back in their respective races, but will they have what it takes?

Check out our tips and predictions for the The Everest & Caulfield Cup below!

The Everest

Winner: KA YING RISING

Top 4: Ka Ying Rising | Tempted | Joliestar | Jimmysstar

Why: The market should have this race nearly spot on.

Ka Ying Rising is clearly the best sprinter in the world. He is the obvious horse to beat. Barrier 11 isn’t ideal, but that shouldn’t worry for a horse of his class. Only query is the soft track – he has never raced on one in his career – and if the track gets to a heavy, he may be in trouble.

Tempted is the best sprinter in Australia. The biggest danger to Ka Ying Rising, but barrier 1 hurts her chances. If she doesn’t get boxed in, the mare could very well pull off an upset. Elite track record as well – eight starts for seven wins. Her only loss was in last year’s Everest where she came second.

Jimmysstar and Joliestar are the next two class horses in the field. Shouldn’t win but keep in mind for exotics.

Connor Scanlon

Winner: KA YING RISING

Top 4: Ka Ying Rising | Tempted | Headwall | Giga Kick

Why: The top two here doesn't need much explanation, something will have to go wrong for this quinella to go under.

Headwall and Giga Kick are huge prices for the class of horse and both would be peaked for this run in their campaigns. Don't forget, Giga is an Everest winner and loves a soft/heavy deck while Headwall has never lost on a heavy track so he will appreciate more rain.

Ethan Clark

Winner: KA YING RISING

Top 4: Ka Ying Rising | Tempted | Joliestar | Jimmysstar

Why: Sit back and watch greatness.

KYR should see them off if he handles the Heavy surface.

Tempted a chance for sure, but would have to go enormous to win.

Ok value both J-Stars to place/top 4…?

Andrew Slevison

Caulfield Cup

Winner: ZAHRANN

Top 4: Zahrann | Saint George | Cosmic Crusader | Half Yours

Why: This is such a wide-open Caulfield Cup.

I’ve got to stick with the former Caulfield Cup favourite Zahrann. Willing to forgive his previous run, given the heavy track.

Same with Saint George. Both of those Ciaron Maher-trained horses are also well weighted with 53kg for Zahrann and 53.5kg for Saint George.

Cosmic Crusader was elite last start, but this will be his first race at 2400m. My only question for the WA gun.

Half Yours is a star, but 57.5kg may be too much for him to win.

Connor Scanlon

Winner: ROYAL SUPREMACY

Top 4: Royal Supremacy | Saint George | Zahrann | Treasurethe Moment

Why: Having seen Royal Supremacy win last start at Caulfield from leading off a hot tempo and kicking away from all rivals bar one, I know Ciaron Maher will have this gelding fit and raring to go up in distance in this one. I'm usually not a huge fan of international jockeys this time of year but hopefully Jamie Spencer can prove me wrong.

Complete forgive runs for Saint George and Zahrann see them return to my top four selections. They are too good to not bounce back on a firmer deck and will round out my Maher-exclusive top three.

Treasurethe Moment has a special spot in my heart and I love her like some love Pride Of Jenni. My patience has been tested ever since her colic diagnosis but her run up on the inside of Jenni two starts back was enough for me to see she still has something to give when given the right race shape.

Half Yours will have to do something not done since Rising Fast in 1954-55 by winning back-to-back Caulfield Cup's and the fact Jamie Melham jumped off says a lot to me.

Cosmic Crusader's gate will cost it dearly and owner Bob Peters sounded resigned to the fact this may be all too hard for his superstar.

European's first-up in Australia (Enfjaar, Wine Dark Sea & Starford) are never something I will be tempted by.

It's going to be a fantastic edition of the Caulfield Cup and I think Supremacy will be incredibly tough to catch.

Ethan Clark

Winner: ZAHRANN

Top 4: Zahrann | Royal Supremacy | Half Yours | Treasurethe Moment

Why: Very even edition of the Caulfield Cup with chances galore.

Willing to forgive the Turnbull run of Zahrann on a Heavy 10. Was too bad to be true.

The Naturalism win before that on a Good 3 with a similar draw was impressive. Drops 2kg from that and Ethan Brown is in form. Ciaron Maher a Grand Final trainer.

Royal Supremacy maps to get a nice run on the speed. Drops 5.5kg from last-start win. Travelling jockey a query. But has Maher polish again.

Including Half Yours. Very few winners even contest this race the year after saluting, let alone win it again (back-to-back only been done twice ever).

But he’s a star at 2400m and beyond and he can be in the finish if at his best.

Call me crazy… but is Treasurethe Moment a decent hope?

Generally loves Caulfield. Loves good tracks. Nicely drawn. Weighted ok.

Should be a fairly even to slow tempo, and she has a turn of foot.

Can sit behind the speed, blend in and power home… if she’s not done for of course. Absolute last chance though.

Note: Promoting Juja Kibo if he somehow gets a run.

Overlooking Cosmic Crusader after owner Bob Peters’ negative comments (hope Bob wasn’t trying to get a better price…)

Respect the internationals but willing to overlook given they’re first-up in a tough handicap straight off the plane. Hat tip if they’re too good.

Andrew Slevison

We also analysed the other two Group 1s – the King Charles III (1600m) and Thousand Guineas (1600m).

Check out our tips and predictions for those two Group 1s below!

King Charles III

Winner: AUTUMN GLOW

Top 4: Autumn Glow | Ceolwulf | God's Window | Just Folk

Why: This is the rematch of the Seven Sunrise Stakes from four weeks ago.

Ceolwulf loomed to defeat Autumn Glow, but the mare was just too good, beating Ceolwulf by 1.6 lengths.

Don’t expect much to change her.

Go Glow!

Connor Scanlon

Winner: AUTUMN GLOW

Top 4: Autumn Glow | God's Window | Ceolwulf | Just Folk

Why: My favourite horse in the country Autumn Glow against a field that lost a dangerous Pride Of Jenni should be light-work in my mind.

Ceolwulf and God's Window are the only dangers with the latter coming off a huge Group 1 win in the Epsom, but they don't have the level of performance that Autumn has in the tank.

Autumn Glow should win this and as the second leg of a win multi with Ka Ying Rising, presents good value.

Ethan Clark

Winner: AUTUMN GLOW

Top 4: Autumn Glow | Ceolwulf | Just Folk | God’s Window

Why: Autumn Glow to win again. Ceolwulf to run second. Bank the exacta. Keep it simple.

Andrew Slevison

Thousand Guineas

Winner: REGAL AMBITION

Top 4: Regal Ambition | Saintly Dancer | De Armas | Over The Bridge

Why: Not overly interested in this race.

Regal Ambition looks a nice one, and she seems to be a 1600m horse. Won her last race, which was 1440m at Caulfield, and was going away from them.

Saintly Dancer is proven at 1600m. Must respect and makes sense why she is the current favourite.

De Armas had a nice finish last start, but this will be her first run at Caulfield. Prefer others.

Over The Bridge is two from two in her career, but those victories were across 1100m and 1200m. The extra 400m here is a query but should still run very well.

Connor Scanlon

Winner: ICELADY

Top 4: Icelady | Saintly Dancer | Regal Ambition | Pretty Baby

Why: Saintly Dancer romped in last start in impressive fashion, but was quelled by stablemate Icelady just one start before. Saintly Dancer is now proven at this distance but may not appreciate the firmer deck as much as Icelady.

I'm taking the formlines of those two over Regal Ambition despite a lot of support for the Ben, Will & JD Hayes 3yo filly and I think it is every chance to be right up there in the finishing stages.

Pretty Baby is a horse and I like the booking of Damian Lane out of a very nice gate (five). Could very well bounce back here and return to the form of the picket fence she had prior to the Regal Ambition loss.

Ethan Clark

Winner: ICELADY

Top 4: Icelady | Regal Ambition | De Armas | Over The Bridge

Why: Icelady was impressive winning the Prelude where she beat Saintly Dancer. Is more than double price than the latter.

Regal Ambition a huge winning hope for Micky Dee and the Hayes boys.

Must respect Chris Waller and Willie Pike teaming up with De Armas. Just edged out by Global Goal who would likely be favourite in this.

Over The Bridge is unbeaten and talented.

Andrew Slevison

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