2026 The Everest: Idol Horse Power Rankings (September 1)

Ka Ying Rising remains a clear favourite to win a second consecutive Everest. Who challenges him is now a lot clearer than it was a week ago.

A weekend of racing in Australia delivered the first real answers of the spring. Guest House broke a track record and a 35-year hoodoo in the San Domenico. Beiwacht ran his rivals ragged in the Memsie. Oliveanotherday and Pembrey forced their way into the conversation. And Angel Capital and Jimmysstar both left Caulfield with more questions than they arrived with.

Here’s how our panel rates the challengers lining up to chase down the champ.

1. Ka Ying Rising –

Age/Sex: 6YO Gelding
Trainer: David Hayes
Race Record: 23:21-2-0
Biggest Win: G1 The Everest (2025)

Unanimous again. Despite Zac Purton’s concerns about both of the horse’s lead-up trials, Ka Ying Rising remains deep odds-on in pre-post markets and will once again start 1.05 at Sha Tin on Sunday in the G3 HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup when he aims for a 21st consecutive victory. Every new name on the board is still auditioning to be ‘best of the rest’.

2. Tempted –

Age/Sex: 4YO Mare
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Race Record: 12:7-2-2
Biggest Win: G1 Surround Stakes (2026)

Kicks off her Everest campaign this weekend in the $1 million G2 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick – just her second career start at the trip, and her sharpest test of speed alone since 1200m became her pet distance. Maher isn’t concerned. “She’s a sharp filly, very sharp,” he said. “It certainly wouldn’t surprise me (if she won), without knowing what’s there but, knowing her, she’s pretty sharp.” Unbeaten in three since finishing second to Ka Ying Rising in last year’s Everest, she heads to the G2 Premiere Stakes on October 3 next if this weekend goes to plan, with Maher keen to see her cement herself as Godolphin’s No. 1 seed.

3. Guest House ↑1

Age/Sex: 3YO Colt
Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Race Record: 5:3-1-1
Biggest Win: G1 Golden Slipper (2026)

Didn’t just win the San Domenico first-up – he shattered a track record that had stood since 2007 and became the first Golden Slipper winner to complete that double since 1991, doing it the hard way after getting buried behind Blue Door and having to work for a passing lane. “Track record, over-raced fresh a little bit and had to bustle his way through an opening that wasn’t there,” co-trainer Mick Price said. “One thing about these great colts is tenacity and I’ve just got to love his tenacity. And there should be more to come. I’ve allowed for it.”

Price has him building toward a Golden Rose–Everest–Coolmore Stud Stakes treble, with Saturday’s 1100m always considered a sharp test for a big colt and he passed with flying colours.

4. Joliestar ↓1

Age/Sex: 6YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 22:10-4-4
Biggest Win: G1 TJ Smith Stakes (2026)

Named Australia’s Champion Sprinter this week and due to return in the G2 Shorts (1100m) on September 19, so she skips the Concorde while others use it as a launching pad. Fifth in a Randwick trial last week, and James McDonald came away with a clear read on where she’s at. “She has put on a lot of weight since she returned from the UK and the Everest will be high up on the agenda,” he said. Drops a spot without doing anything wrong – she just hasn’t raced while a rival made a statement.

5. Ninja –

Age/Sex: 4YO Gelding
Trainer: Michael Freedman
Race Record: 9:5-1-2
Biggest Win: G2 Hobartville Stakes (2026)

No run since the Missile Stakes breakout, and the panel keeps him parked just behind the established trio based on that explosive performance. Ninja is part-owned and was bred by John Camilleri, who holds an Everest slot through Fairway Thoroughbreds, meaning the horse is guaranteed a spot in the race. “I think any trainer with a half-decent sprinter has dreams of getting to The Everest at this time of year,” trainer Michael Freedman said. “If he can continue to take that next step, then you’ve got to dream big, right?”

6. Beiwacht ↑3

Age/Sex: 4YO Horse
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 14:4-3-1
Biggest Win: G1 Memsie Stakes (2026)

Announced himself in a big way – a dominant three-length Memsie win under Nash Rawiller, his third Group 1 at 1400m after the Golden Rose and All Aged Stakes. But the win may have made him less of an Everest priority rather than more. Waller’s immediate reaction pointed offshore: “We said last year we were keen to take him internationally, but he’s not a real straight horse. He was out of his comfort zone in the Lightning Stakes, and it dented our confidence a little bit. He’s a specialist 1400-metre type horse, so there are some international thoughts there.” That last line is the problem – the Everest is 1200m, and Beiwacht’s sprint record gives Godolphin pause. The domestic alternative that fits him best is the Golden Eagle over 1500m, and there’s an argument the Memsie made that the more logical target. Godolphin already have Tempted as their No.1 seed, so the question is whether their Plan B ends up in the race at all.

7. Oliveanotherday NEW

Age/Sex: 4YO Gelding
Trainer: Tom Dabernig
Race Record: 8:6-1-0
Biggest Win: G3 The Heath (2026)

The newest name on the board. Resumed from a break to win the G3 Heath at Caulfield on Saturday, extending his winning streak to five straight and drawing acknowledged interest from Everest slot-holders. Trainer Tom Dabernig himself has stopped short of confirming a tilt – “we won’t get ahead of ourselves just yet.”

8. Angel Capital –

Age/Sex: 5YO Horse
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 17:5-2-2
Biggest Win: G2 Autumn Stakes (2025)

Our experts found the 10th in the Memsie uninspiring. Still, the high floor/low ceiling case from earlier in the campaign hasn’t really changed and he holds his spot. Jockey Ben Melham said the going may have contributed to the disappointing performance. “He hates the ground,” Melham said.

9. Lady Shenandoah ↑1

Age/Sex: 5YO Mare
Trainer: Chris Waller
Race Record: 16:5-4-3
Biggest Win: G1 Coolmore Classic (2025)

Fourth in the Winx Stakes behind Autumn Glow she is slated to run over 1400m again this Saturday in the G2 Tramway Handicap. She moves up one after Autumn Glow’s connections opted to take on the King Charles III Stakes. The panel’s quiet ‘knockout hope’ if a fast, hot-paced Everest falls apart late.

10. Jimmysstar ↓4

Age/Sex: 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Race Record: 29:11-5-4
Biggest Win: Russell Balding Stakes (2025)

Took the biggest hit after a 9th in the Memsie despite some excuses offered by jockey Ethan Brown following a torrid run. “I’d be forgiving,” he said. “I thought he found a nice enough spot after 300 metres, he travelled well throughout, but he just hated having that horse lay all over him throughout, struggled to quicken into gear after that, just trusting he’s going to come on from the run.”

11. Giga Kick ↑1

Age/Sex: 7YO Gelding
Trainer: Clayton Douglas
Race Record: 23:9-3-3
Biggest Win: The Everest (2022)

Still leaning on the ‘class is permanent’ case with a winless autumn behind him, but he holds firm as others around him get overtaken by fresher form. Gets a chance to show where he is at first-up on Saturday in the G1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at Sandown and the plan is then the G1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on September 27. If somebody is then willing to take a punt on the 2022 winner then he will be third-up into The Everest, the pattern Douglas describes as the horse’s “sweet spot”.

12. Pembrey NEW

Age/Sex: 3YO Filly
Trainer: Tony Gollan
Race Record: 5:3-0-0
Biggest Win: G2 Silver Shadow Stakes (2026)

Jockey James McDonald didn’t hesitate after the Silver Shadow win – “Give her a slot. She was exceptional. She showed great sustained speed, and to be able to quicken off that, that’s impressive.” Trainer Tony Gollan pumped the brakes as the shadow of Ka Ying Rising loomed large. “I haven’t really thought about The Everest to be honest. But I would think about anything with her. I will let the dust settle on this and my plan has been the Princess Series as I have been keen to get her to 1400m … anything is an option although would I want a three-year-old filly to take on the good horse from Hong Kong? Probably not.” ∎

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