Max Whitby, who shares an Everest slot with Neil Werrett, Col Madden and Steve McCann, confirmed a deal had been negotiated with Headwall's syndicate of owners including headed by Reg Young.

"We were keen to get Headwall because we feel he's going to be very competitive in The Everest,'' Whitby said.

"Obviously, Ka Ying Rising is going to be hard to beat but we are happy to be involved.

"Headwall's two runs so far this spring have been very good, he's going as well as ever, and it's been a pleasure working with Reg Young and his team to lock in this deal.

"I'd love to get one of my own sprinters into The Everest one day but that wasn't going to happen this year so it's a relief to get Headwall.''

Whitby and Werrett have had an Everest slot since the race's inception in 2017 and have gone agonisingly close to winning the world's richest turf race.

They were with Vega Magic in 2017 when he was an unlucky second behind Redzel, then the slot-holders had to settle for second again with Masked Crusader behind champion Nature Strip in 2021.

Whitby and Werrett have also had a third placing with Private Eye in 2023 (behind Think About It) and a fourth from Trekking in 2020 (won by Classique Legend).

HEADWALL winning the SNAP PRINT SOLUTIONS WOLLONGONG THE WARRA at Kembla Grange in Australia.

HEADWALL winning the SNAP PRINT SOLUTIONS WOLLONGONG THE WARRA at Kembla Grange in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart

Young said he is "absolutely delighted" to get Headwall into The Everest.

"I'm so happy for my partners, so happy for my trainer, Matt (Smith), and also for Headwall because I think the horse deserves his position in the race,'' Young said.

"He's been a consistent sprinter at the top level for a while now and even though he was off the scene for a long time, his two runs back have been really good.

"He has pulled up well and incident free so it's exciting to get him to The Everest.''

The Smith-trained Headwall joins Ka Ying Rising (slot-holder Hong Kong Jockey Club) and Ninja (Fairway Thoroughbreds) in the elite 12-horse for The Everest on October 17.

Smith has been preparing Headwall with the world's richest turf race in mind and was relieved his brilliant seven-year-old has secured his place in the field.

Trainer : MATTHEW SMITH after, FLOATING winning the PEACHESTER LODGE SHOOT OUT MILE

Trainer : MATTHEW SMITH after, FLOATING winning the PEACHESTER LODGE SHOOT OUT MILE Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

"I'm super excited to get Headwall into The Everest,'' Smith said,

"I've known Max and Neil for a long time and I've trained horses for them before so it's great we can team up with Headwall.''

Headwall was bred and is raced by a syndicate including Young, a long-time client of the Smith stable.

"When Rod Craig retired from training at Warwick Farm (2014), Reg came across and has been with me ever since,'' Smith said.

"We've had a lot of success together over the years including with the likes of Tricky Gal and they are all home-breds.

"But Headwall is the best of them and I feel he is going super this spring.''

Headwall resumed after a 12-month injury-enforced break to finish an unlucky second behind Tempted in the Concorde Stakes before his closing fifth, beaten only a length behind to Mazu in The Shorts last Saturday.

Headwall ran his final 600m sectional in 32.70s which was the fastest of the Randwick meeting.

"I'm really happy with how Headwall is going and he has come through last Saturday's race, he's in great order,'' Smith said.

"But because he had been off the scene for so long I'm thinking of running him in the Premiere Stakes next week as he heeds the racing. He will be very fit and at his top for The Everest.''

Aritcle: Ray Thomas, International Editor for Racing and Sports

Photo: Bradley Photo