Already a dual Group1 winner, Bjorn Baker’s 5yo All Too Hard mare Stefi Magnetica added the $2m Group 2 ATC The Invitational (1400m) to her impressive record, with her earnings smashing through the $7m mark for her ownership group headed by the Cunningham family.
Clearly the class runner of the field, having resumed with a solid fourth in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes behind fellow Invitational runner Manaal, it was the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Miss Roumbini who surprisingly jumped the favourite off the back of her last starts Group 1 Sir Ruper Clarke Stakes second.
With Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Gerringong going forward to settle in second with the Rachel King ridden Oh Diamond Lil going forward from barrier 2 to take up the running, Stefi Magnetica had settled just off mid-field for jockey Jason Collett.
Last start Group 3 Nivison winner Gangtsa Granny was getting a good run in third, just ahead of Manaal who had the favourite Miss Roumbini tracking her.
As Gerringong took over passing the 200m mark, Manaal and even wider out Stefi Magnetica, were starting to make their challenges.
Stefi Magnetica was making up significant ground down the outside and in the shadows of the post, got her head in front to take the $1m first place prizemoney.
Holding on for second after a gallant run to the line, Gerringong was a quarter of a length off the winner with consistent Gangsta Granny finishing in third, just ahead of Manaal in fourth, all within a length of the winner.
"I thought if we didn't have this setback the King Charles last week was the ideal race for her," Baker said.
"I didn't have any confidence coming in today off a little bit of a setback, and she was great.
"I can't win a race during this carnival, I've had seconds, thirds, fourths, fifths, so it's a big relief. I had Overpass run a gallant fourth last week (in The Everest).
"It's hard to win races this time of year, you need a very special horse and a special team behind you and I'm lucky to have both."
"There was a bit of a worry about fitness coming into it off the setback she had, but that was great," Collett said.
"She's just electric when you get her back and let that tempo unfold in front.
"Just letting her get into that rhythm is so important too."
As for where she will head next, Baker felt a trip to Melbourne might be on the cards.
"We won't back up, maybe we'll go to the Champions Mile and take on a couple of our old sparring partners," Baker said.
"Nothing like good competition, we love good competition."
The victory takes Stefi Magentica’s record to five wins and eight placed performances from 23 starts with earnings of $7,035,800, a brilliant return on investment from the $140,000 that Cunningham Thoroughbreds, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) and Bjorn Baker Racing spent when purchasing the daughter of All Too Hard from the Magic Millions yearling sale draft of Cressfield.
Bred by Cressfield Thoroughbreds, Stefi Magnetica, a half-sister to the Group 3 MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Hellfest, and stakes-placed winner Euphoric Summer, is the best of five winners to race for the Group 1-winning Oamaru Force mare Mid Summer Music.
From the same family as Saturday’s Group 2 McEwen Stakes winner Jigsaw, Mid Summer Music’s current 3yo is a filly by Bivouac named The Magnet and is in the stable of Baker, while the mare foaled full brother to Stefi Magnetica before unfortunately passing away the day after foaling the colt.
Stefi Magnetica is one of five Group 1 winners amongst 31 stakes winners for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard who is standing this season at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
