Trainer and jockey quotes following the Group 1 The Star Stradbroke Handicap won by Stefi Magnetica at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Race Result:
1st: Stefi Magnetica (Bjorn Baker/Zac Lloyd) - $15
2nd: Bella Nipotina (Craig Williams/Ciaron Maher) - $11
3rd: Vilana (James Cummings/Tim Clark) - $4.80F
Winning Time: 1:21.00 Last 600m: 35.07
Margins: ½ Neck x 2L
The filly Stefi Magnetica wins an epic G1 Stradbroke - and it’s @ZacLloydx with his first Group 1 winner! @BrisRacingClub @BBakerRacing pic.twitter.com/eQl5rMReHB
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024
Winning Trainer: Bjorn Baker (rep by Jim Clark)
"She's an amazing filly. She won a Wellington two-year-old race at the back end of the season, she won a BM58 at Orange in December, she was just chinned in the Surround, Bjorn opted to give her a short break and set her for the winter. Her run in the 10 000 was amazing. She was in the wrong part of the track, I think everyone saw that."
"It was an amazing ride there. To win Queensland's greatest race with a filly that (Gary…. And Mitch Cunningham) bought as a yearling and trained by one of my best mates and one of my best supporters in Bjorn, is the biggest thrill of my career and I'm just so pleased."
Winning Jockey: Zac Lloyd
"I was fine the whole time cantering back but to see my dad has got me emotional."
On the run: "I was very confident pre-race. She galloped enormous on Tuesday. My dad and I went through the race thoroughly and we honestly thought we were on the right horse. The first furlong or two went perfect. She was in a good rhythm, she wasn't overracing.
"Just as a couple of horses started dropping back in our face I had to make a decision to go around with the pack but I ultimately thought there'd be too much traffic so I thought I was travelling so well I was happy to go inside of them.
"She was tough. I saw Bella Nipotina and I thought that was one horse you don't want to be in a finish with, but she was great.
"It is really good just to get that group one on my resume. I've had some great opportunities in the pasy year or so and I haven't been able to capitalise. To get the job done today in a very big race, it is very special."
Beaten Jockeys:
Craig Williams (Bella Nipotina): "Brave in defeat. Amazing horse. The stable said she'd improved coming into today. She offset a tricky barrier draw and was very gallant in defeat."
Michael Dee (Magic Time): "Probably looking for a break now. She's just not the same horse since Sydney."
Vlad Duric (Antino): "Walked out of the gates and that was about the end of our race."
Daniel Stackhouse (Benedetta): "She travelled ok. Took off the bridle earlier than I wanted to but she struggled to really quicken. Honest run."
Tommy Berry (Cepheus): "Had a tough run from a bad barrier."
Tim Clark (Vilana): "He ran terrific. He got in a good spot, he presented and was very courageous."
Regan Bayliss (Here To Shock): <No comment taken>
Jason Collett (Nugget): "He had a wide run to never cover. On that track the 1400 is just a bit quick for him."
Craig Newitt (The Inevitable): "It was a super run. He got buffeted a bit early, got put back on the fence, tracked through and ran really well."
Chad Schofield (Amenable): "Good, honest run. We beat the draw and got into a lovely position one-out and one-back. Quickened well and then whacked away to the line."
Tyler Schiller (Prince Of Boom): "He probably just didn't get to dictate like he likes to do, today. He quickened ok but the rest of the field just outsprinted him with the amount of work he had to do middle stages."
Mark Du Plessis (Osipenko): "I thought he ran great. He finished off really well. Got a lovely run behind Benedetta and Bella Nipotina. I thought for a spring campaign over a mile-plus it was a huge run."
Damien Thornton (Mighty Ulysses): "He pulled as he can do. Track is probably too firm for him."
Dylan Gibbons (Semana): "Slipped on jumping and was well back from there. Didn't cut the corner and that was her race."
Robbie Dolan (Dream Hour): "He held his own for a long way. The winner just left me for windburn at the 300 (metre mark) and he just whacked away for that last bit. It was a good run."
Dean Yendall (Steparty): "He began well. Travelled super. Happy with where he was in the middle of the race but just never fired a shot today, unfortunately."
Will Price (Roll On High): "Really good. A bit sticky from the gate, travelled beautifully in the run. Just a little far back. Last furlong was really good so she's got it in her."
