She was already a Group One winner and been a regular in the top level sprints but All Too Hard’s Stefi Magnetica surely crowned her career when victorious in the $4million Group I Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.
Having only once run at the mile, finishing fourth, it was that result which paved the way for this successful attempt.
That initial attempt was last campaign, when a strong one length fourth to Mr Brightside in the Champions Mile at weight for age over the Flemington spring carnival and importantly her third run of the campaign.
“We knew she was good third-up,” said trainer Bjorn Baker post the Doncaster.
Thus given the required two lead up runs, she was clearly in the position of a plan coming together and it could not have come together any more perfectly under Jason Collett.
Drawing gate five, she flew from the jump settling just off pace, importantly off the fence giving her the option to shift wide for her finish on a track where inside was poison.
The splits came on point and on time and she fought hard to the line to beat Royal Patronage (Wootton Bassett) by a head with Encap (Capitalist) third.
Had a single thing gone awry for an instant she doesn’t win, but some days are diamonds and she, and all involved, deserved it.
“I must say it's a massive, massive thrill,” said Baker.
"I've got my biggest clients in this horse. I've got a great team. From vets, everyone, Cressfield who we bought her off, Jason Collett, I think he's ridden more winners for me in Australia than anyone.
Click here for more about Cressfield and their Inglis Easer draft.
“Cressfield is about sourcing the best racemares and mating them thoughtfully to hopefully produce something special”
“It's very, very special. I needed to win a big race at The Championships and my team did. We're mindful of that.
“We've had a great year, great two to three years, we've been zero here but we're back.
“Two Group Ones next to her name, Doncaster and Stradbroke, very valuable mare.”
A $140,000 purchase for Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Bjorn Baker Racing from the Cressfield draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Stefi Magnetica advances her record to four wins, three seconds, and four thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $5,832,550.
A half-sister to the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Hellfest (Hellbent), and stakes-placed winner Euphoric Summer (Not a Single Doubt), Stefi Magnetica is the best of five winners from as many to race for Mid Summer Music, a Group One winner of the Stradbroke Hcp herself.
Sent to the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Mid Summer Music was purchased by Tyreel Stud for $300,000.
Covered by All Too Hard, she was back in the ring a year later at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock purchased her on behalf of Cressfield Stud for $375,000.
Sadly she died last September having foaled a full brother to Stefi Magnetica.
She also has a two-year-old by Bivouac named The Magnet, a $100,000 buy for Scott Waters at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and in work with Bjorn Baker.
Stefi Magnetica is one of 28 stakes winners and five Group One winners for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard.
His current season sees him with 77 winners and comfortably within the top 20 sires in the country by both earnings and winners.
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