Eduardo (outside, white cap) overcomes Nature Strip in The Shorts G2, also won by Redzel and Classique Legend before their Everest triumphs in 2017 & 2020. (PHOTO: Martin King/Sportpix)

Everest contender Eduardo wins The Shorts

Trainer Joe Pride insisted that Eduardo had returned better than ever. 

Jockey Nash Rawiller’s confidence in the dual Group 1 winner wasn’t shaken by the prospect of taking on current world champion sprinter Nature Strip.

John Messara was happy to negotiate with the 8YO gelding’s owners and secure him to a represent slot-holders The Star and Arrowfield in the $15 million The Everest on 16 October. 

And then Eduardo had his say, opening his Everest campaign with a thrilling defeat of Nature Strip in the $500,000 The Shorts 1100m G2.

Eduardo nails Nature Strip in The Shorts!

Bring on the #TABEverest.@nashhot @PrideRacing @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/60Ws4mnJeR

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2021

Nash Rawiller was full of praise for Eduardo and his trainer. “The horse was magnificent over the last 100 metres…he was very strong late.

“It was just a great effort by Joe to get him here today to pull out a run like that with four weeks in mind.”

Bred and part-owned by Jane Kaufmann, Eduardo is by Hussonet’s US Group 1-winning son Host from Blushing, an unraced daughter of Fantastic Light descended from the classy mid-1980s filly Avon Angel. 

Eduardo’s 22-start, $2.8 million career began with a debut win as a winter 4YO at Moe.

Less than two years later he beat Nature Strip for the first time, in the Challenge S. G2, and became a Group 1 winner in The Galaxy & the Doomben 10,000. 

Now he’s among the favourites for the world’s richest race on turf.  

Bring. It. On!