Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Bjorn Baker says given his three TAB Everest runners so far have finished sixth, eighth, and tenth, he’d like to think Stefi Magnetica is his best chance of winning the nation’s premier sprint.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The mare who won her first two races in country NSW takes on Australia’s best as a rising star having notched her third career win in the Stradbroke earlier this year and she earned her berth in the Group 1 $20m TAB Everest (1200m) with a slashing second in The Shorts a month ago.

Baker said he’ll head to Randwick on Saturday quietly confident Stefi Magnetica is still on the up and that means anything could happen.

“She always puts in 100 per cent and she’s improved throughout her career, I think she’s made natural progression again,’’ Baker said.

“You don’t know where the ceiling is and that’s exciting.

“In the Stradbroke she showed she’s up to them and now possibly she’s gone to another level.

“She was very good in the Shorts, she’s had four weeks between runs and a trial in between.”

He's been represented by Overpass in the past two editions while Shades Of Rose also contested the 2022 running where she finished eighth.

The Warwick Farm trainer secured Stefi Magnetica’s place in the TAB Everest via the Newgate & GPI Racing slot. He tried hard to convince other slot holders to give Overpass a third shot at the race but he’ll line up in the Group 3 $2 million Toyota Forklifts Sydney Stakes (1200m).

“I was confident with Overpass last year but I must say I don’t think he ran up to his best,’’ he said.

“He’s been super consistent over the last 18 months or so and that was the one bad run he put in.

“He didn’t come out of the race 100 per cent and I was devastated.

“If Stefi Magnetica can get a bit of luck in running I think she’s right there, I wouldn’t swap her for anything.”

The four-year-old, $14 with TAB on Thursday, drew ideally in the middle of the field and shortly after that gate was revealed Baker received a text from jockey Zac Lloyd who said he was rapt.

The two time champion apprentice will be having his second Everest ride, he finished fifth on Cylinder last year, and Baker loves the confidence he’s exuding leading into the race.

“He’s very much in form and I think he’s a jockey on the rise,’’ Baker said.

“He’s a bit like Stefi, they’re in the same position. I’d like to say the same about the trainer!

“Zac’s very happy with the gate, I think she can handle all tracks and I couldn’t be happier

“If she can settle midfield comfortably travelling I’d be happy. She’s been further back in her last couple due to the barriers but there’s no need to go that far back.

“From that point of view we have the option to be closer but Zac will weigh it up and ride it as he sees it.”

Before Overpass set foot back in Baker’s stables for his spring preparation the trainer had planned a first-up assault on TAB Everest day so he’s been trained right up for the Sydney Stakes.

The gelding has won two trials in easy fashion, plus had exhibition gallops and days at the races to switch him on so given he was hoping to win an Everest first-up there’s high expectation for the consolation.

“He’s got his targets and whether we got into the Everest or not he’s ready to run a big race on Saturday,’’ Baker said.

“I think he’s never been better, we know how to get him ready first-up and that’s something we’ve learned.

“He was at the races last week and he’s had a couple of good gallops, we really sounded him out and Josh (Parr) was happy with him Tuesday morning.”

Stefi Magnetica runs second in The Shorts

Stablemate Caballus hasn’t fired in two runs back from a spell, finishing last in both the Moir and Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley last month, so Baker is understandably reserved about his chances of bouncing back to form in the Sydney Stakes.

However, the four-year-old is unbeaten at Randwick with his last win coming at the expense of Makarena and Encap in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince back in February.

“It’s always hard to be confident coming off a disappointing run but he does have ability,’’ he said.

“We’ve got Craig Williams on and his best runs have been at Randwick.”

All the fields, form and replays for TAB Everest Day at Royal Randwick