There is a familiar feel every time Magic Time comes to Sydney as she walks into the same box at Randwick and her trainer Grahame Begg points out she has never left it without a significant cheque.
Since she was autumn three-year-old Magic Time has come up to Sydney and gone home a winner, but even Begg believes it will be difficult to maintain that record from the outside barrier in The Everest on Saturday.
“She is at home but there [at Randwick]. She has her box and has been there for a week, and it’s like a working holiday for her,” Begg said.
“Sydney has been good to her, but the Everest is by far, her toughest test, but she deserves to be there and will run a good race.
”Everything has gone to plan so far, and she’s ready to take on the stars.”
Magic Time won the 2023 PJ Bell Stakes before adding the Nivison in the spring then it was victory in the All Aged Stakes on a bottomless track in autumn of 2024.
She came for the spring last year and was runner-up in the Invitation and Hot Danish Stakes before winning the Expressway Stakes beating Joliestar in the autumn of this year.
“She has always been a horse that likes getting to Sydney and she has run well in two TJs as well,” Begg said. “She is up to this grade and if we could get a big storm on Friday night it would be good because she is very good on a wet track.
“I thought she was great in the Manikato Stakes [where she ran third] and I’m told she is going better again.”
Begg won’t be at The Everest as he prepares for a hip replacement at home, but he has pulled the last lever he has by putting the blinkers on Magic Time.
“She has never not been genuine, but we want her focussed on Saturday,” Begg said. “It is the one percenters that can make the difference, so we didn’t want to leave anything to chance.”
