Star sprinter Briasa, the Group 1 winner carrying the hopes of Australian racing fans, could not overcome a tardy start in the $20 million The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick recently, finishing eighth behind the dominant Hong Kong visitor, Ka Ying Rising.
The Team Hawkes-trained grey, partnered by jockey Tyler Schiller, was widely touted as a leading local chance following an explosive preparation that secured his place in the world’s richest turf race.
The Build-Up: An Electrifying Spring
Briasa, a son of Smart Missile, entered The Everest in career-best form. His campaign was meticulously planned by trainers Michael, John, and Wayne Hawkes, targeting a peak performance third-up.
The highlight of his spring was a stunning victory in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick two weeks prior, where he put away a quality field with a blistering turn of foot. Co-trainer Michael Hawkes had consistently voiced confidence in the lead-up, acknowledging the threat of Ka Ying Rising but maintaining that the challenge was wide open.
“We believe that we’ve always had the right horse for the race, we’ve believed in this horse since day one,” Hawkes had stated, adding that the five-year-old was “peaking right on the day” for his grand final.
Briasa’s preparation had been flawless, capped by the electric Premiere Stakes win that saw him break 1:08 for the 1200m, reinforcing the belief that he was a top-tier contender ready for the climb.
The Race: A Costly Slow Start
Breaking through barrier 10, the race plan for Briasa was immediately compromised. Jockey Tyler Schiller found himself further back than anticipated, forcing him to ride for luck and rely on the blistering tempo up front to bring his mount into the contest. As Ka Ying Rising controlled the field and ultimately sprinted away to victory, Briasa was chasing hard from the rear. Ultimately, the early ground conceded proved too much in a field where margins were tight among the placegetters. Briasa finished 3.2 lengths behind the winner, a result that failed to reflect the power of his late surge.
Jockey’s Reflection
Tyler Schiller was quick to offer an honest assessment of the race, identifying the start as the crucial turning point that dictated their run. “I thought he had done a great job from back in the field. He didn’t anticipate the start as he had been the last two. Just ended up a long way back,” Schiller said. Despite the set-back, the young jockey managed to position Briasa behind one of the key threats, but the position proved unsustainable in the high-pressure finish.
Schiller added: “I thought he got the right cart into the race. Joliestar took us everywhere. He just couldn’t finish off from back there.”
Speaking after the race, the Hawkes camp remained proud of their sprinter’s effort, noting that circumstances ultimately conspired against him from the tricky barrier. The grey had performed admirably against the world’s best despite the difficult run. While Briasa was unable to repeat the success of his autumn Group 1 win, his strong spring campaign confirmed his place as one of Australia’s premier sprinters, and the team will now map out a path for the remainder of the carnival.
– Tully Potts
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