‘It doesn’t have to be one or the other’: Stefi Magnetica eyes off $30m The Everest-Golden Eagle double

Stradbroke Handicap winner Stefi Magnetica’s primary spring carnival goal is the $10m Golden Eagle but the $20m The Everest is also on the table.

Stefi Magnetica won the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap during the Queensland winter carnival. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Proud Queenslander Mitchell Cunningham thought it was a dream winning the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, but says there could now be more than $30m of races on the table for Stefi Magnetica during the golden Sydney spring.

Bjorn Baker’s flying filly carried the colours of the Cunningham family to score the Group 1 Stradbroke in an emotion-charged win for family members including Mitchell’s Mum Lorilie who came out the other side of a brave breast cancer fight.

STEFI MAGNETICA WINS THE STRADBROKE HANDICAP!

ZAC LLOYD GETS HIS ELUSIVE GROUP 1! @ZacLloydx@[e-mail]/mWKqa0eGFV

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) June 15, 2024

Cunningham has declared the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) is the primary spring goal for Stefi Magnetica but is convinced the filly could also have a crack at the $20 million The Everest (1200m) which is two weeks earlier.

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All roads lead to the Golden Eagle but Cunningham feels Stefi Magnetica is likely to catch the attention of Everest slot-holders when she has a pair of trials and then resumes, most likely in the Premiere Stakes on October 5.

“The ultimate aim is the Golden Eagle, but she would also have the option to run in The Everest should she gain a slot,” Cunningham said.

“The jump from 1200m of The Everest to 1500m of the Golden Eagle two weeks later might not sound ideal.

“But that said, while the Golden Eagle is a big carrot, she has shown the speed to be running a strong 1200m.

“It doesn’t need to be one or the other, it could be both.

“We will just let it all play out.

“I think if she runs really well when she resumes, I’d say there is going to be some meaningful conversations around having a crack at The Everest.

“Should the opportunity arise for a slot in The Everest, I think it would be hard to pass up.

“Otherwise we would look at going to the Silver Eagle on Everest day and then onto the Golden Eagle.”

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Mother and son team Lorilie and Mitch Cunningham after winning the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap with Stefi Magnetica. Picture: Ben Dorries

Stefi Magnetica is currently an $11 chance in the Golden Eagle on TAB fixed odds and is a $26 prospect in The Everest.

Cunningham said at this stage there were no advanced slot holder discussions regarding an Everest slot for the now four-year-old mare.

Boom Sydney apprentice Zac Lloyd scored his first Group 1 when winning the Stradbroke on Stefi Magnetica with a magic ride, but no jockey has yet been confirmed for a rich spring campaign.

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Lloyd appears to be in the box seat to ride Stefi Magnetica in the spring, however connections are keen to have one jockey stick with her which could yet create some issues.

“Zac certainly has earned his spot on the mare, but there are some complexities that come with his alignment with Godolphin,” Cunningham said.

“What we want with a jockey this preparation is a jockey that is going to be sticking with the mare.

“In her preparations so far, she has had a lot of jockeys, which has been a source of frustration for us all.

“She needs now, for what is the most important preparation of her career, some continuity in terms of who is riding her.

“The decision is still to be made.”

Originally published as ‘It doesn’t have to be one or the other’: Stefi Magnetica eyes off $30m The Everest-Golden Eagle double