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There’s a new player in the 2021 TAB Everest in the shape of businessman James Kennedy who has secured the GPI Racing slot for this year’s edition and while it’s only for one year at present it seems he plans to be in for the long haul.
Kennedy, 42, is Executive Chairman of the Luxury Group that carries his surname, which specialises in luxury watches and jewellery, but he’s been a growing presence in the Australian racing industry over the past few years.
He’s a sponsor of a number of feature races in Victoria, most notably the Oaks, and has established Kennedy Racing at Pakenham where trainer Caroline Jennings and assistant Roger Elliott prepare his horses.
Kennedy has long admired the Everest this year worth $15m and its immediate international attraction and didn’t want to miss out on the rare opportunity of being a part of it when one presented itself.
The sale of the GPI Racing slot for which the process was managed by Inglis attracted global interest from the moment owner Greg Ingham announced he was offering it.
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster welcomed Kennedy into the Everest fray as one of the 12 slot holders.
Greg Ingham, whose star sprinter Chautauqua participated in the inaugural running of The Everest, also sold his slot last year, to MiRunners, but said he has no plans to relinquish the slot.
“The Everest is here to stay, the model works, it gets more and more popular each year and we are thrilled to be involved,” he said.
“Offering our slot for sale is purely a financial decision, Barb and I still remain heavily invested in the concept itself and we look forward to doing so for many years to come.’’
The fifth running of the TAB Everest takes place at Royal Randwick on October 16.