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By Ray Hickson

The endgame is the $10 million Golden Eagle – all trainer Simon Miller has to do is work out how to get his star filly Amelia’s Jewel there on October 28.

Owner Peter Walsh has already been tempted by a slot in the TAB Everest, with Miller confirming an offer is on the table, but Miller said he’s willing to forgo a run in the sprint he says is now Australia’s premier race to ensure she’s at her best for the 1500m of the Golden Eagle.

On the back of her slashing second behind Sydney sprinter Overpass in the inaugural $4m The Quokka (1200m), Amelia’s Jewel is $6 equal favourite with Giga Kick in TAB’s all-in Golden Eagle market and on the third line at $11 behind the defending champ in the TAB Everest.

“You know she gets the trip, it’s against her own age at set weights. It all marries up and it’s big money,’’ Miller said.

“I’ve got to sit down and figure out a few programs and once I have a few on the table I’ll sit with Peter and figure out which way best gets us to an Eagle.

“I’ll be looking at all the Eagle runners, the ones that won or ran well, and see which path they took.”

Miller, who hasn’t yet had a runner in Sydney, said being part of the Everest experience is appealing but the only instruction he’s been given by Walsh is to end at the Golden Eagle and work backwards.

OVERPASS wins The Quokka from a fast finishing Amelia's Jewel! @BBakerRacing @JoshuaParr8 @PerthRacing @OfficialRWWA @TheRacesWA @TAB_touch pic.twitter.com/uQK7AzrSkd

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 15, 2023

He said a race like the $1m Silver Eagle (1300m) could be a logical lead up but at this stage of the year all options are on the table.

“My fear with going to the Everest is do you zap her when your grand final is the Eagle,’’ he said.

“The Everest has surpassed the Melbourne Cup. You can follow the horses, you can follow the lead ups, you know the horses. You can breed an Everest winner.

“The greatest thing is Pete never puts me under any pressure. If we were chasing dollars we’d go Everest and Eagle no doubt but he just said go to the Eagle and figure out how we get there.”

It sets the stage for a fascinating spring. Both Amelia’s Jewel and Giga Kick have only had nine career starts and are only rising four-year-olds.

Miller said it’s hard to line his filly up against the Everest champ, who posted his first win at 1400m is last Saturday’s Group All Aged Stakes, at this stage but he’s a fan and is looking forward to getting the chance.

Whether they meet in an Everest, a Golden Eagle or both in the spring remains to be seen.

“It feels like he’s been around that long because there’s been so much publicity about the horse and deservedly so because he’s such a good horse,’’ he said.

“You forget he’s only three, and what he’s done in a short amount of time is remarkable.

“I know she’s good, I know she’s got a massive engine and a brain. She’s climbing the ladder at a rapid rate and we’ll see how many more rungs she can climb.

“I love watching her train at home, she’s just a beast when she works. I’ve just got to figure out what her best trip is. I don’t know what it is yet.”

In being trained for The Quokka, Amelia’s Jewel won at 1100m first-up but her Group 1 win came at 1800m in the Northerly Stakes last summer so Miller knows the 1500m of the Golden Eagle is the least of his concerns.

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