One of the most popular foaling stories on Breednet back in the spring of 2024 revolved around the full brother to dual Group I winner Stefi Magnetica and while the beginning of his life was marred by tragedy, it’s been blue sky and a smooth journey ever since for the Magic Millions bound colt.
Cressfield will present a draft of seven at Magic Millions and Lot 537 is the All Too Hard colt from Group I winner Mid Summer Music, who died not long after having him, which forced Stud Manager Liesl Wickson to think outside the square.
As detailed in this story (Click to read) Liesl looked to the dry mare paddock at Cressfield for a suitable candidate to take on mothering the orphan colt and dual Group I winner Platelet fit the bill.
Long story short, Platelet has done an outstanding job and the colt has grown and developed into a male version of Stefi, who has won over $7million in prizemoney.
“That colt has been such a good story, he has been uncomplicated all the way through,” said Liesl Wickson.
“He is tough and sound, with an unbelievable work ethic. Combined with his cleverness he strikes you as the kind of colt that will thrive in training.”
Stefi Magnetica was not a flashy yearling and was snapped up by Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Bjorn Baker Racing for $140,000 at the Magic Millions in 2022.
“He is not unlike Stefi in that he is probably a tad forgettable on type and he has the head his sire All Too Hard is famed for passing on, however I am confident the good judges won’t miss him,” she added.
Cressfield drafts are always long on quality and depth of pedigree, but these yearlings are offered to sell with Doyle Racing / Kurrinda Bloodstock well rewarded when they outlaid just $120,000 for Capitalist colt Hidden Motive in 2024.
A winner of three races to date, he won the Group II ATC Roman Consul Stakes last spring and Nathan Doyle will have a myriad of options on the table for him in 2026.
Below are the remaining six Cressfield yearlings for MM 2026:
Lot 229 Filly Capitalist x Dream of Venus, by I Am Invincible
First foal of a winning daughter of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal. By champion sire I Am Invincible, who is increasingly making his mark as a broodmare sire, Dream of Venus was bred and raced by Cressfield and retired lightly raced with a win and a placing from just three starts.
Lot 244 Colt Home Affairs x Egyptian Symbol, by Stratum
By a young sire in Home Affairs that has already made a promising start with exciting youngsters Kinnaird, Guest House, Harvey Wallbanger, Internal Affairs and I’m Ya Huckleberry. Fourth foal of Cressfield bred and raced G3 winner Egyptian Symbol, a daughter of G1 winner Our Egyptian Raine.
Lot 721 Filly Home Affairs x Real Surreal, by Real Saga
Also by Home Affairs, this filly is a half-sister to two winners from MM 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal, a half-sister to G3 winner Benny’s Buttons. A November 15 foal, she will do nothing but improve from here.
Lot 888 Colt Jacquinot x Tamarind Lane, by Stratum
From the first crop of dual G1 winner Jacquinot and is a half-brother to G3 winning sprinter Extremely Lucky. Dam has done a fabulous job with four foals to race all winners and she comes from the family of G1 winners Nicconi, Niconero, Zip Zip Array and Communist.
Lot 908 Colt Russian Revolution x Thump, by Red Ransom(USA)
From multiple Group winner Thump, who has done a good job producing four winners from four to race three of them metro winners with lightly raced 3YO Trumper winning at Newcastle after the catalogue went to print. Bred on successful Snitzel (sire of Russian Revolution) x Red Ransom nick with these two sires combining in 16 SWs including G1 winners Trapeze Artist, Estijaab, Libertad, Return to Conquer and Yearning.
Lot 974 Colt Zoustar x Wild Rain, by Manhattan Rain
Full brother to stakes-placed Spring Lee, a winner of over $400,000. From multiple Group winning lightning fast sprinter Wild Rain, who has had five foals to race and four are winners with the family best known for producing Australian Horse of the Year Northerly and $12.4million earning G1 sprinter Overpass.
