Everest scramble: Skybird ruled out of Inglis spot

There is only 16 days until The Everest and a third of the field for the $20 million slots remains unknown after Skybird was withdrawn from the Inglis slot on Wednesday.

The Black Caviar Lightning Stakes winner was disappointing in the Manikato Stakes and pulled up lame with Racing Victoria stewards ordering her to barrier trial before she races again.

Skybird’s trainer Mitchell Freedman confirmed to Inglis on Wednesday she would not be fit to run in the Everest.

“We have had a couple of days of to prepare for this and we are not panicking,” Inglis chief executive Sebastian Hutch said. “We will work through what is available and find the right horse and the right deal.”

Inglis joined Mulberry Racing, Coolmore and Godolphin in not have their slot filled.

It is not the first time Inglis has been in this position, in 2022 an Inglis Digital graduate, Private Eye, replaced Snapdancer under a fortnight out from the Everest.

A share in the Manikato Stakes winner Charm Stone was sold to Yulong on Inglis Digital last week, only days before she became a dual Group 1 winner.

Godolphin is set to choose between Golden Rose winner Beiwacht, Tempted and Tentyris, which returns in the Danehill Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Mulberry Racing has Jedibeel running in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick on Saturday, but has also had discussions with War Machine, which is the favourite for Saturday’s Gilgai Stakes at Flemington.