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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Peter Snowden is adamant emerging star Mazu has what it takes to win a TAB Everest, whether it comes on Saturday is something he’s a little less bullish about.

The four-year-old has stamped himself as a topline sprinter of the future with everything he’s done in 2022 and while his winning run from the autumn came to an end with two defeats this spring he’s shown Snowden more than enough to regard him as Everest material.

Mazu is the first horse to have been locked into a two year Everest deal, by the Star and Arrowfield slot, and Snowden is confident whatever he does in Saturday’s $15m TAB Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick an even better Mazu will turn up next year.

“I keep thinking to myself, and looking at the horse, I’m sure he will be better again next year,’’ Snowden said.

“But I firmly believe he can run in the first three and if we can do that it’s a big tick in my mind where the horse is at.

“All the boxes have been ticked as far as we’re concerned and we hope we get luck on the day.”

Of course the Peter and Paul Snowden stable knows plenty about winning a TAB Everest.

Their former warhorse Redzel won the first two editions of the nation’s richest race and it’s been well documented that Mazu, who lives in Redzel’s old box at the stable, shares plenty of parallels.

The difference is Redzel was a five-year-old when the Everest was born and that’s what gives Snowden confidence the best is still to come.

Mazu, $17 with TAB on Thursday, drew directly inside Nature Strip in the TAB Everest and while a double digit barrier is always a concern for a tactical horse the champion trainer can see positives.

“When you sit down and analyse where each horse is drawn you can work out an idea how it may be run,’’ he said.

“But that’s not to say it will be run like that when the gates open. You’ve got to trust your horse and trust your jockey.

“He’s a go forward sort of horse so he’s going to make his own luck at some point in the race and we’ll see what happens on the day.

“I would have loved to have drawn in the first five or six but that wasn’t to be. There are a couple of inside horses with speed but most of it is out wide.

“Which means they’re all going to be doing what we’re going to be doing so hopefully they can make a hole somewhere we can slot in.

“The favourite is outside us, he has to go forward, he won’t be dragging back to last so we can follow him across and get into a handy spot and back the horse’s ability to be in the finish.”

After Mazu finished second behind Lost And Running in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago Snowden declared the gelding on target and he’s not backing away from that view.

He said there was so much hidden merit in the performance and it highlighted the need to time his run to perfection rather than being dictated to as he was in the Premiere.

Mazu runs second in the Premiere Stakes

Punter’s Intelligence sectional data showed Mazu clocked the fastest section from the 1000m-800m (11.05) and from the 800m-600m (11.40) and Snowden said you can’t do that and expect to win an Everest so was rapt to only be beaten narrowly.

“Looking at the race they went quick early and when they found their spots the leaders quickened again and Sam (Clipperton) had to chase that speed a bit midrace to keep on the back of the leaders,’’ he said.

“When you only get beaten half a neck those quick sectionals early in the race might have taken a bit of gas out him.

“What I liked was he rallied again, when it looked like he was going to be beaten a length and a half he rallied and was beaten half a neck.

“If we can make the 400m-200m and last 200m the best of the race it gives us a hope.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Everest Day at Randwick