Bruce McAvaney previews The Everest and Caulfield Cup live on Channel 7 and 7plus – The 10th running of The Everest and the 150th Caulfield Cup headline Australia’s biggest Saturday of thoroughbred racing, live and free on Channel 7, 7two and 7plus from 12.00pm AEDT.
The TAB Everest is the world’s richest race on turf. This year, it celebrates its 10th edition at Royal Randwick. Meanwhile, the iconic Sportsbet Caulfield Cup marks its 150th running at Caulfield Racecourse.
Saturday is the centrepiece of Seven’s Spring Racing Carnival 2026 coverage, and it carries a rare double milestone, with The Everest reaching a decade and the Caulfield Cup reaching 150 editions on the same afternoon. For viewers, the whole day is free across Channel 7, 7two and 7plus.
As a result, Seven will bring Australians the best of Sydney and Melbourne racing in one blockbuster day. It combines the glitz of the Everest Carnival with the history and tradition of the Caulfield Cup.
Bruce McAvaney and Glen Boss lead Channel 7’s coverage
Australian Racing Hall of Famer Glen Boss and Australia’s pre-eminent sports broadcaster Bruce McAvaney headline the coverage. They will call the action from Royal Randwick and Caulfield Racecourse.
In addition, they are joined by Emma Freedman, Jason Richardson, Katelyn McDonald, Lizzie Jelfs and 7NEWS Sport Reporter Xander McGuire. Kate Waterhouse also joins the broadcast.
Bruce McAvaney on the biggest Saturday in Australian racing
Bruce McAvaney said Saturday stood above every other raceday on the Australian calendar.
There’s no question this is the biggest Saturday in Australian racing, with two of the top races taking centre stage.
Bruce McAvaney, Seven
He said this year’s Everest field had drawn worldwide attention.
The Everest is the world’s richest race on turf and this year has attracted one of the most significant horses in world racing, Ka Ying Rising. He’s a genuine worldwide phenomenon, which means it won’t just be Australia and Hong Kong watching, it will be the whole world. With an outstanding field assembled for the 10th edition, it promises to be something special.
Bruce McAvaney, Seven
McAvaney also previewed the milestone Caulfield Cup.
Then you have the 150th running of the Caulfield Cup, one of the great races of the Melbourne spring.
Bruce McAvaney, Seven
There is so much history and tradition surrounding this race, and with no clear-cut favourite we’re in for a great day of racing. There are some international contenders and the defending champion Half Yours returns. It’s incredibly rare for a horse to return and win the Caulfield Cup again, let alone after winning both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. He will attract plenty of attention following a jockey change, with Jamie Melham making the decision to head to the Everest to ride three-year-old filly Blue Door. That in itself, is significant.
Bruce McAvaney, Seven
He added that the King Charles III Stakes had become a major event in its own right.
What New South Wales has done so cleverly is built a full program around the phenomenon that is the Everest, with the King Charles III Stakes also now a major event. We have Australia’s number one racehorse Autumn Glow, up against the horse that’s won it the past two years in Ceolwulf, and the iron lady in Pride of Jenni. If it were on its own, it would be one of the highlights of the spring, but to have it alongside the Everest makes this, without question, the biggest Saturday in Australian racing.
Bruce McAvaney, Seven
The Everest field
With more than $41 million in prize money across the two venues, Everest Stakes Day is headlined by the $20 million Everest. Defending champion Ka Ying Rising is chasing a second Everest win and remains the dominant favourite in early betting, with Zac Purton riding again.
He faces plenty of big threats, including Tempted, Jimmysstar, Ninja and three-year-old filly Blue Door. They are joined by Joliestar, a third-time runner, and 2022 winner Giga Kick.
King Charles III Stakes
The King Charles III Stakes features reigning Australian Horse of the Year Autumn Glow, ridden by champion jockey James McDonald.
However, she will face Ceolwulf, who is chasing a third straight win after defending his title in 2025. Fan favourite Pride of Jenni also lines up.
The 150th Caulfield Cup
The 150th Caulfield Cup is wide open this year. In-form Cosmic Crusader will be looking to give WA’s top jockey William Pike his first major, while defending champion Half Yours is aiming to become the first back-to-back winner of the race since 1955.
Jockey Ethan Brown has given up his Everest ride to pilot Zahrann, who is looking to bounce back. Meanwhile, a host of internationals add intrigue to the race, including Wine Dark Sea, Enfjaar and Starford.
The Everest barrier draw on 7plus
Before race day, fans can also watch the barrier draw for the 10th Everest. Emma Freedman will host the coverage from Luna Park, live and free from 8.00pm AEDT on Tuesday, 13 October on 7plus.
More racing and sport on Channel 7
After that, Seven’s international racing coverage continues with the 2026 Breeders’ Cup World Championships from Keeneland Racecourse in Kentucky. It airs on Saturday, 31 October and Sunday, 1 November, live and free on 7two and 7plus. The Longines Hong Kong International Races follow at Sha Tin on Sunday, 13 December, live and free on 7plus.
The racing forms part of a big week of sport on Seven and 7plus, headlined by the Rugby League World Cup 2026. The tournament kicks off with Australia v New Zealand at 7.00pm AEDT on Thursday, 16 October, before the NFL continues on Friday morning.
Viewers can also watch Australia take on Bangladesh in the third Women’s ODI on Wednesday. Then, Australia faces New Zealand in the first T20 on Sunday. In addition, Round 10 of the AFLW season starts on Friday with Melbourne taking on Richmond, all live and free on Seven and 7plus.
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Broadcast times on Channel 7 and 7plus
Everest Stakes barrier draw – Tuesday, 13 October
- Sydney and Melbourne: 8.00pm live on 7plus
- Brisbane: 7.00pm live on 7plus
- Adelaide: 6.30pm live on 7plus
- Perth: 6.00pm live on 7plus
Caulfield Cup (Caulfield) and Everest Day (Royal Randwick) – Saturday, 17 October
- Sydney and Melbourne: 12.00pm live on Seven and 7plus
- Brisbane: 11.00am live on 7two and 7plus, 11.30am live on Seven and 7plus
- Adelaide: 11.30am live on Seven and 7plus
- Perth: 9.00am live on 7two and 7plus, 10.00am live on Seven and 7plus
For more TV Central horse racing news, head here. To stream the races live and free, visit 7plus.