This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The win was Stefi Magnetica’s third from 13 starts and took her earnings to more than $2.1 million.
Stefi Magnetica is a three-year-old filly by All Too Hard and she is trained by Bjorn Baker.
This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Stradbroke Handicap.
1st – STEFI MAGNETICA (Zac Lloyd (a)) I was very confident pre-race. 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 1 on my resume. I’ve had some great opportunities in the past 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.
2nd – BELLA NIPOTINA (Craig Williams) 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.
3rd – VILANA (Tim Clark) He ran terrific. He got in a good spot, he presented and was very courageous.
4th – THE INEVITABLE (Craig Newitt) It was a super run. He got buffeted a bit early, got put back on the fence, tracked through and ran really well.
5th – AMENABLE (Chad Schofield) 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.
6th – OSIPENKO (Mark Du Plessis) 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.
7th – NUGGET (Jason Collett) He had a wide run to never cover. On that track the 1400m is just a bit quick for him.
8th – BENEDETTA (Daniel Stackhouse) She travelled ok. Took off the bridle earlier than I wanted to but she struggled to really quicken. Honest run.
9th – DREAM HOUR (Robbie Dolan) 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.
10th – SEMANA (Dylan Gibbons (a)) Slipped on jumping and was well back from there. Didn’t cut the corner and that was her race.
11th – ROLL ON HIGH (Will Price) 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.
12th – ANTINO (Vlad Duric) Walked out of the gates and that was about the end of our race.
13th – STEPARTY (Dean Yendall) He began well. Travelled super. Happy with where he was in the middle of the race but just never fired a shot today, unfortunately.
14th – MAGIC TIME (Michael Dee) Probably looking for a break now. She’s just not the same horse since Sydney.
15th – CEPHEUS (Tommy Berry) Had a tough run from a bad barrier.
16th – MIGHTY ULYSSES (Damien Thornton) He pulled as he can do. Track is probably too firm for him.
17th – PRINCE OF BOOM (Tyler Schiller) 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.
18th – HERE TO SHOCK (Regan Bayliss) No comments provided.