In a thrilling finish to Queensland’s premier racing event, Bjorn Baker‘s Stefi Magnetica emerged victorious in the 2024 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Zac Lloyd (pictured in Sydney) won the 2024 Stradbroke Handicap as an apprentice aboard the filly Stefi Magnetica. Photo: Steve Hart.
Ridden by young jockey Zac Lloyd, the three-year-old filly edged out multiple Group 1 winning mare Bella Nipotina to claim her first Group 1 win.
Lloyd, son of racing legend Jeff Lloyd, delivered a masterful ride, navigating Stefi Magnetica through the field before making a decisive move up the inside in the straight.
This tactic proved successful, propelling the filly to victory in the $3 million race.
The win marked a significant moment for both horse and jockey.
Stefi Magnetica, an All Too Hard progeny, had steadily risen through the ranks, culminating in this remarkable achievement.
“Very, very proud,” said Jeff Lloyd, expressing his delight over his son’s win. “He’s been crying out to win a Group 1. To win it in Queensland, my home town, I couldn’t be prouder.”
Stefi Magnetica’s win capped off a remarkable journey.
After a win in a Benchmark 58 race at Orange last December, the filly displayed her potential with a close fifth to Bella Nipotina fresh in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 followed by a third-place finish in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic.
“She’s an amazing filly,” said stable representative Jim Clarke, standing in for Bjorn Baker who was attending jockey Rachel King’s wedding.
Clarke highlighted the strategic decision to give Stefi Magnetica a break before setting her sights on the winter races.
Despite drawing an unfavourable wide barrier (19), Lloyd managed to secure a good position early on before making a decisive move up the inside.
“It’s amazing,” Lloyd expressed his post-race elation. “I was very confidence pre-race. We honestly thought we were on the right horse. I had to make a decision…and I was travelling so well so I was happy to go up the inside with her. She was great.”
Ciaron Maher‘s Bella Nipotina, winner of the Doomben 10,000, mounted a serious challenge but ultimately fell short due to the weight disadvantage (56kg compared to Stefi Magnetica’s 50kg).
James Cummings‘ beaten favourite Vilana, winner of the Moreton Cup at the track the weekend prior, completed the Stradbroke Handicap trifecta.
Stefi Magnetica’s victory rewrote history, becoming the first three-year-old filly to win the Stradbroke since La Montagna in 2006.
With this win, the filly sets her sights on a bright future in the upcoming spring carnival, with various interstate elite-level races on the horizon.
2024 Stradbroke Handicap Results
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | STEFI MAGNETICA | Bjorn Baker | Zac Lloyd (a) | 15 | 50kg | $15 | |||
| 2 | 1 | BELLA NIPOTINA | Ciaron Maher | Craig Williams | 0.25L | 17 | 56kg | $11 | ||
| 3 | 6 | VILANA | James Cummings | Tim Clark | 2.35L | 11 | 53kg | $4.80F | ||
| 4 | 9 | THE INEVITABLE | John Keys | Craig Newitt | 3.53L | 6 | 53kg | $26 | ||
| 5 | 10 | AMENABLE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Chad Schofield | 4.31L | 13 | 53kg | $9 | ||
| 6 | 12 | OSIPENKO (NZ) | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis | 5.21L | 9 | 52.5kg | $41 | ||
| 7 | 8 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Jason Collett | 5.39L | 8 | 53kg | $14 | ||
| 8 | 4 | BENEDETTA | Jason Warren | Daniel Stackhouse | 5.41L | 4 | 54kg | $13 | ||
| 9 | 15 | DREAM HOUR | Kris Lees | Robbie Dolan | 5.51L | 2 | 51.5kg | $101 | ||
| 10 | 14 | SEMANA | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Gibbons (a) | 5.81L | 18 | 52kg | $21 | ||
| 11 | 18 | ROLL ON HIGH | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Will Price | 5.9L | 10 | 50kg | $26 | ||
| 12 | 3 | ANTINO (NZ) | Tony Gollan | Vlad Duric | 6.03L | 16 | 54.5kg | $7 | ||
| 13 | 16 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | Dean Yendall | 8.67L | 3 | 50.5kg | $16 | ||
| 14 | 2 | MAGIC TIME | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 9.35L | 7 | 55.5kg | $13 | ||
| 15 | 5 | CEPHEUS (GB) | Matthew Dunn | Tommy Berry | 10.16L | 12 | 54kg (cd 54.5kg) | $61 | ||
| 16 | 13 | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Damien Thornton | 12.48L | 14 | 52.5kg | $26 | ||
| 17 | 11 | PRINCE OF BOOM | Robert Heathcote | Tyler Schiller | 14.17L | 5 | 52.5kg | $26 | ||
| 18 | 7 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Regan Bayliss | 14.69L | 1 | 53kg | $31 | ||
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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