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By Ray Hickson

From almost certain retirement 12 months ago to the TAB Everest – it’s been a remarkable journey for Haut Brion Her.

The talented mare completed the 2020 TAB Everest field on Monday when it was revealed her owners Three Bridges Thoroughbreds had acquired the Chris Waller Racing slot and would start their mare in the $15m race.

Three Bridges’ Peter Liston said it’s exciting to have a runner in the world’s richest race on turf and special that it’s Haut Brion Her given it appeared her career could have been over prematurely when she pulled up with a tendon injury following a Flemington win in October 2019.

“After she won the Blazer Stakes we bought her home and found she had an injury,’’ Liston said.

“The theory was we’d retire her. Michael Bryant, the famous horse chiropractor, suggested we send her to Lee Everson which we did and here she is back racing.”

Bryant is well known throughout the racing industry but probably best known as Black Caviar’s chiropractor while Everson specialises in treating tendon injuries.

The results of their work were seen when Haut Brion Her won the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill last month at her first start since the injury.

“With a horse of her ability, while he we did consider retirement, we thought we’d give her the time off,’’ Liston said.

“That win gave us enough confidence to keep going. Hopefully dreams can come true for the battlers.

“Chris has always spoken very highly of her, we put our trust in him, and to be able to get the slot is fantastic. Hopefully it turns out good for us and Chris and his team.”

Haut Brion Her wins the Sheraco Stakes on September 12

The five-year-old, $26 with TAB, has races 10 times for six wins and three seconds.

Her only placed run was her last start seventh in the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) on September 26 where she drew an outside barrier and had to work hard to find the lead and weakened to be beaten 2.5 lengths.

After that defeat Waller said Haut Brion Her would come back to 1200m for her next start at Randwick on October 17 – most thought it would be for the Group 3 Sydney Stakes but she finds herself in the TAB Everest.

“Since the day she was born Haut Brion Her has been a very special filly and showed us early on she had talent to burn on the track,” Liston said.

“At Three Bridges we take a very natural approach to raising our young horses, focusing on growing quality, strong horses in large open paddocks.

“The results of those principles are exemplified by Haut Brion Her, who will now tackle the highest-rated sprint in the world. It’s very exciting and we couldn’t be prouder of this wonderful mare.”

Haut Brion Her’s form does have a tie in with TAB Everest runner Tofane, they clashed at Moonee Valley last year and the Waller mare gave Tofane 3.5kg and was beaten 0.3 lengths. Since then Tofane has graduated to Group 1 winner.

Waller now has two runners in the TAB Everest with Nature Strip running in the TAB-owned slot as the stable chases back-to-back wins following the track record breaking win by Yes Yes Yes in 2019.

“It’s incredibly exciting for the whole Waller Racing team to see two of our stable stars line up as genuine chances in the 2020 Everest,” Waller said.

“Haut Brion Her has showed her brilliant speed this preparation with a superb win in the Sheraco and I know she is capable of giving this race a shake up.

“Her work has been faultless the last two weeks which gives me great confidence that she will be primed to put in a big performance on Saturday.”

Brenton Avdulla will ride Haut Brion Her in the TAB Everest.

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