The Everest 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Tue. 13 Oct. 2026 10:38

Alex Marsh 3 hours ago

Share this article

Randwick hosts the 10th edition of The Everest on Saturday, October 17, with 12 elite sprinters chasing $20 million
International star power, proven Everest performers and multiple Group 1 winners headline this year’s field
Final field and barrier draw are confirmed for the world’s richest turf race

Ka Ying Rising has drawn barrier eleven for the 10th edition of The Everest. (Getty)

The final field is locked in for the 2026 Everest, with 12 runners set to contest the $20 million sprint over 1200m at Randwick on Saturday, October 17.

The Everest 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
The Everest History

Hong Kong superstar Ka Ying Rising (barrier 11) returns to defend his crown for David Hayes and Zac Purton after becoming the first internationally trained horse to win The Everest last year.

He defeated Tempted and Jimmysstar in the 2025 edition and has continued to underline his standing as the world’s premier sprinter since. Most recently, he smashed his own Sha Tin 1200m course record by almost a second, clocking 1:06.11 in a 7.75-length demolition that extended his Hong Kong-record winning streak to 21 and lifted his international rating to 135.

Tempted (barrier 1) shapes as the obvious main danger after finishing runner-up to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest.

The Ciaron Maher-trained mare has taken another step since then and has been unbeaten in five starts during 2026, including wins in the Concorde Stakes and Premiere Stakes at Randwick this spring.

Her Randwick record now stands at six wins and a second from seven starts, while she has won four of five over the 1200m course.

Jimmysstar (barrier 8) completes the trio that filled last year’s Everest placings, having finished third behind Ka Ying Rising and Tempted.

He arrives this year with another major sprint win on the board after taking out the Manikato Stakes at Caulfield last start, and Nash Rawiller takes the ride for Ciaron Maher.

Giga Kick (barrier 12) brings some of the strongest Everest credentials in the field. The Clayton Douglas-trained gelding won the race in 2022 and returned to finish runner-up to Bella Nipotina in 2024.

Dylan Gibbons is booked this year as Giga Kick attempts to become a multiple winner of Australia’s richest sprint.

Chris Waller has two runners, with Angel Capital (barrier 2) to be ridden by Ben Melham and Joliestar (barrier 5) partnered by James McDonald.

Joliestar finished fifth in last year’s Everest and is already proven at the elite sprinting level, while Angel Capital was sixth in the same race and returns this year with a Group 1 win now on his record.

Headwall (barrier 6) lines up for Matthew Smith and Kerrin McEvoy after finishing second to Tempted in the Concorde Stakes earlier this spring, giving him a direct form line through one of the race’s leading chances.

Caballus (barrier 10) gives Bjorn Baker a senior sprinting hope with Tim Clark aboard, while Spicy Martini (barrier 4) takes her place for Toby Edmonds and Inglis with Taylor Marshall in the saddle.

Savvy Hallie (barrier 7) represents Brad Widdup and Mulberry Racing with Zac Lloyd aboard after finishing runner-up to Tempted in the Premiere Stakes, another key Randwick lead-up into The Everest.

Ninja (barrier 3) lines up for Michael Freedman and Fairway Thoroughbreds with Tommy Berry aboard and comes into the race off an eye-catching Randwick barrier trial, where he edged out Ka Ying Rising.

Three-year-old filly Blue Door (barrier 9) rounds out the field for Bjorn Baker and Newgate/GPI-RACING, with Jamie Melham booked to ride. She gets the major weight pull at 51kg against the older sprinters and adds the three-year-old form line to the race.

The 2026 Everest brings together the first three home from last year in Ka Ying Rising, Tempted and Jimmysstar, a former winner in Giga Kick, proven Group 1 sprinters and several emerging challengers.

With Ka Ying Rising back to defend his title and Tempted returning in career-best form, the stage is set for another high-class renewal at Randwick.

The Everest 2026 - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Slot Holder	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Ka Ying Rising (NZ)	Hong Kong Jockey Club	David Hayes	Zac Purton	11	58.5kg
2	Jimmysstar (NZ)	TAB	Ciaron Maher	Nash Rawiller	8	58.5kg
3	Giga Kick	Coolmore	Clayton Douglas	Dylan Gibbons	12	58.5kg
4	Angel Capital	Yulong	Chris Waller	Ben Melham	2	58.5kg
5	Caballus	James Harron Bloodstock	Bjorn Baker	Tim Clark	10	58.5kg
6	Headwall	Max Whitby Syndicate	Matthew Smith	Kerrin McEvoy	6	58.5kg
7	Ninja	Fairway Thoroughbreds	Michael Freedman	Tommy Berry	3	58.5kg
8	Joliestar	Chris Waller Racing	Chris Waller	James McDonald	5	56.5kg
9	Tempted	Godolphin	Ciaron Maher	Chad Schofield	1	56.5kg
10	Spicy Martini	Inglis	Toby Edmonds	Taylor Marshall	4	56.5kg
11	Savvy Hallie	Mulberry Racing	Brad Widdup	Zac Lloyd	7	56.5kg
12	Blue Door	Newgate/GPI Racing	Bjorn Baker	Jamie Melham	9	51kg

The Everest History

First run in 2017, The Everest has quickly become one of the standout sprint races on the world stage and a major fixture of the Sydney spring.

The race is built around a distinctive slot-holder model, with 12 places secured by owners, breeders, racing organisations and investors, who then nominate a runner to represent their slot.

Worth $20 million, The Everest is the richest turf race in the world and regularly attracts elite sprinters from Australia and overseas to Randwick each October.

Redzel won the first two editions in 2017 and 2018, becoming the race’s inaugural dual winner, while subsequent champions have included Yes Yes Yes, Classique Legend, Nature Strip, Giga Kick, Think About It and Bella Nipotina.

Hong Kong star Ka Ying Rising joined the honour roll in 2025, adding further international weight to a race that has grown rapidly in profile and prestige.

In less than a decade, The Everest has established itself as a defining feature of modern Australian racing, combining huge prizemoney, a unique format and a consistently high-class 1200m field.