Newgate lock in the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica for $20m The TAB Everest

A brilliant return in last Saturday’s Group 2 The Shorts has seen the Stradbroke Handicap winner snapped up for the $20m TAB Everest.

Stefi Magnetica became the fifth horse locked in for The TAB Everest. Picture: Grant Peters/Trackside Photography

Stefi Magnetica is the fifth sprinter – and the third mare- to secure a start in the $20m The TAB Everest next month.

Slot-holder Newgate Farm and Stefi Magnetica’s ownership group reached an agreement on Tuesday to start the mare in the world’s richest turf race at Royal Randwick on October 19.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica earned her Everest start after a brilliant comeback run when just beaten by I Am Me in The Shorts last Saturday.

Stefi Magnetica, winner of the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap earlier this year, now joins I Wish I Win (slot-holder Trackside Media), Bella Nipotina (TAB) and Bustling (Max Whitby and Neil Werrett) as confirmed Everest starters.

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The G2 Shorts at Randwick goes to I Am Me, who puts her name forward for an Everest slot! 🙌@mcacajamez | @cmaherracingpic.twitter.com/nw1CGrTI0u

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 21, 2024

Sunshine In Paris, winner of the Sheraco Stakes last start, is raced by John Camilleri and is widely expected to be given the Fairway Thoroughbred slot that Camilleri manages.

Since The Everest was first run in 2017, a mare or filly has not even managed to place in the big race but with Stefi Magnetica, Bella Nipotina and Sunshine In Paris, the mares are going to be major The Everest contenders next month.

Baker said Stefi Magnetica’s rise through the ranks from a Wellington maiden winner to an Everest starter has been “remarkable for my stable and in particular her ownership group”.

“She showed in The Shorts that she is still on an upward trajectory and the best is yet to come,’’ Baker said.

“Zac Lloyd shares my confidence in her ability and she will be at her peak on Everest Day.

“It’s extremely exciting for myself and my stable to have another runner in The Everest. As the race gets closer, you realise how much you want to be involved – it’s a special race on the Australian calendar.’’

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Trainer Bjorn Baker will have another The Everest starter. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Newgate Farm supremo Henry Field is defending an “unbeaten record” in The Everest after buying a slot last year and selecting eventual winner Think About It.

Field said there is a striking similarity between Think About It and Stefi Magnetica as both won the Stradbroke Handicap and were on the improving big-race sprinter going into The Everest.

“We did a lot of work on The Shorts results with (ratings guru) Dan O’Sullivan and he felt Stefi Magnetica was a Group 1 winner with untapped potential,’’ Field said.

“She came off her Stradbroke win earlier in the year and resumed with a high-rating performance to be unluckily beaten in The Shorts and we feel she has so much natural progression going to The Everest. Like Think About It last year, we know this is a good formula.

“Plus, this is a relationship business and the Cunningham family, who are among Steve Magnetica’s owners, have their farm near ours in the Hunter Valley, they are great people and it is good to work with them.’’

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Henry Field (right) feels Stefi Magnetica has untapped potential. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

Baker said Stefi Magnetica will go second-up into The Everest but he might give the mare a barrier trial between runs.

“I want to make sure she retains that fantastic turn of foot she showed last Saturday,’’ Baker said. “There’s one guarantee with ‘Stefi’ she always gives 100 per cent every race.’’

Stefi Magnetica is currently at $15 with TAB Fixed Odds for The Everest behind I Wish I Win at $5.

■ It is understood negotiations continue between I Am Me’s connections and an Everest slot-holder with an announcement imminent.

Originally published as Newgate lock in the Bjorn Baker-trained Stefi Magnetica for $20m The TAB Everest