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There’s nothing like a Gr.1 double on one of the Sydney spring’s signature days to give a jockey a kick along and Regan Bayliss is now eyeing the two biggest prizes – the TAB Everest and Golden Eagle.
Bayliss was on Sunday confirmed as the rider of The Inferno in the $15m TAB Everest (1200m) on October 16 and he’ll retain his Epsom-winning ride on Private Eye in the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) two weeks later.
While the 24-year-old was in the mix for the ride on Cliff Brown’s sprinter he’s certain his back-to-back Group 1 wins on Never Been Kissed (Flight) and Private Eye (Epsom) got him over the line.
It’s easy to forget that Bayliss has ridden in two of the four TAB Everests so far – he partnered Redkirk Warrior in the inaugural edition in 2017 and Libertini last year.
The TAB Everest picture changed after Saturday’s Premiere Stakes where Masked Crusader showed he is on track but after beating just one horse home Rothfire is out of the race for the second year running.
The four-year-old was reported to have a minor issue with his near fore fetlock and trainer Robert Heathcote decided his Everest mission was over, leaving slot holder James Kennedy to selected another horse.
And Tim Clark, who was to have ridden Rothfire, is now the rider of Wild Ruler in the TAB Everest.
Meanwhile, Bayliss is likely to be back in the Gr.1 action this weekend with Flight Stakes winner Never Been Kissed a good chance to back up in the Gr.1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
It’s a double Metropolitan winner Montefilia achieved in 2020 and Bayliss said there’s no reason why she wouldn’t be competitive.