Giga Kick has produced a stunning upset to romp home and claim The Everest.
Craig Williams produced a scinitillating ride to storm home down the outside and claim the richest race on turf.
Entering the race as an $18 outsider, the red hot favourite Nature Strip looked home and hosed with 150m to go but was swamped by Giga Kick, Private Eye and Mazu.
Stream Over 50 Sports Live & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Nature Strip was going for its second straight The Everest victory but it wasn’t to be as Giga Kick pulled off the absurd upset.
Nature Strip sat on the hip of Eduardo as they rounded the bend and as they straightened up 400m from home, she moved to the lead and many believed that would be all she wrote.
But as the horses stormed down the straight the mighty gelding failed to pull away and was overrun in the final stages.
Private Eye came home second ahead of Mazu with Nature Strip crossing the line fourth.
“Extraordinary, stunning,” Bruce MacAvaney said in commentary.
“You knew he (Nature Strip) was in trouble and it was going to take something special (to win).”
The win from Giga Kick was historic on multiple levels as the horse became the first ever undefeated winner of The Everest, the longest priced winner and the youngest winner to claim the honours.
Giga Kick’s historic victory left the punting world in utter disbelief with majority of the money in all markets flooding in for Nature Strip.
7 News reporter John Hunt wrote: “A big kick up the you know what for the punters today. What a smoking last 200m from Giga Kick.”
THE EVEREST FINISHING ORDER
1: Giga Kick
2: Private Eye
3: Mazu
4: Nature Strip
5: Jacquinot
6: Overpass
7: Kementari
8: Shades of Rose
9: Masked Crusader
10: Joyful Fortune
11: Eduardo
12: Ingratiating
Nature Strip firmed on the betting markets earlier in the day after second favourite Lost and Running was scratched.
It emerged on Saturday morning the six-year-old gelding had failed to pass a veterinary inspection.
According to punters.com.au, Racing NSW said: “A vet inspection of Lost And Running this morning has found Lost And Running to be lame in the off hind leg and unsuitable to start in The Everest.
“Lost And Running has been scratched from The Everest.
“TAB has selected Kementari as the replacement which will start from barrier 7.”
Lost And Running had been a solid $7 second favourite.