Osborne Bulls, the Godolphin sprinter who occupies a prominent place in betting on the $14 million Everest, will have a delayed start to his spring campaign.
Godolphin revealed the five-time Group One runner-up’s return had been pushed back two weeks.
Osborne Bulls was entered to contest a 1000m barrier trial at Randwick on Tuesday but was withdrawn from the heat that was subsequently won by fleet-footed mare Sunlight.
A Godolphin statement said Osborne Bulls would now have his first barrier trial of a new campaign on September 10.
The decision means Osborne Bulls will be missing from what will be a star-studded Concorde Stakes over 1000m at Randwick on Saturday week.
“The (Group Three) Concorde Stakes has come a little too early for him,” Godolphin said.
Trainer James Cummings is expected to target the Group Two The Shorts over 1100m on at Randwick September 21 as Osborne Bull’s return race.
Osborne Bulls was an 11th hour inclusion in last year’s Everest field and finished third under an arrangement with slot holder, the Australian Turf Club.
Godolphin has secured its own slot for this year’s race, Australia’s richest.
Since contesting the 2018 edition, Osborne Bulls has raced six times for a Flemington win.
But five successive placings at Group One level since that Melbourne Cup carnival victory have ensured the six-year-old remains at the forefront of Godolphin’s Everest strategy.
Brilliant stable companion Alizee is also among Godolphin’s possibilities for the Everest.
The winner of three Group One races, Alizee resumed in winning form to take out the Missile Stakes at Rosehill on August 10.
She is an early favourite to enhance her record at racing’s elite level in the Memsie Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield on Saturday.
In Everest betting, Osborne Bulls ($7) holds a slight call over Ailzee ($8) for second favouritism behind Santa Ana Lane.