There was lots of value to be had in this season’s surprise 2025 Doncaster Mile trifecta with three double-figure roughies running in the money including Bjorn Baker‘s winning mare Stefi Magnetica.
The four-year-old daughter of All Too Hard was the sharp improver in the 160th edition of the Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Day 1 of The Championships coming off two unplaced runs to claim the time-honoured classic at Royal Randwick.
Third-up she enjoyed her first turf triumph since her Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap win in Brisbane last winter, breaking the drought in style in front of a big Sydney crowd.
“I must say it’s a massive, massive thrill,” Baker told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“I’ve got my biggest clients in this horse. I’ve got a great team. From vets, everyone, Cressfield who we bought her off, Jason Collett, I think he’s ridden more winners for me in Australia than anyone.
“It’s very, very special. I needed to win a big race at The Championships and my team did. We’re mindful of that. We’ve had a great year, great two to three years, we’ve been zero here but we’re back.”
After running eighth in the Canterbury and sixth in the George Ryder last time out, Stefi Magnetica relished a drop in weight to 54.5kg to become a dual Group 1 winner.
“Very valuable for Ridgmont, the Cunningham family, and she is, she’s worth a fortune,” Baker said.
“And I think Jason will be a bit like me. He needed a big win through this carnival as well.
“It’s very special.”
Jockey Jason Collett retained the ride with both he and trainer Baker celebrating their first Doncaster Mile triumph.
“I’m kind of shocked, to be honest. I was in front at the line and was like, ‘holy hell, sh** I’ve just won!” Collett said.
“I don’t know, I was just trying to get her comfortable.
“Most of that race they went a very slow tempo, but I was in the right spot and her turn of foot was electric.
“She did come on a lot from that last start performance, and I liked her gallop better on the Tuesday.
“I didn’t bolt as quick, it was a bit more of a sustained bolt, but she’s unbelievable.”
Collett got Stefi Magnetica ($18) into the clear 200m from home before lunging right on the line to finish a head clear of the game recent Canterbury Stakes winner Royal Patronage ($14) who finished a brave second for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
“She’s not the biggest, but she’s the toughest,” Baker added of the winner.
“She’s her own personality. She’s a tough, tough, young lady and she’s been up against the best.
“So even last time I thought she would have finished off a bit better, but she’s here today. Just so special for the connections.”
With a wall of horses across the track late, it was the Gary Portelli trained Capitalist four-year-old Encap ($51), on the super quick back-up off a fourth in Tuesday’s rescheduled Prelude, at huge Doncaster odds running a close third to round out the trifecta.
Also eye-catching running a half-length back fourth was the first emergency Rise At Dawn ($21) for the Linsday Park stable who gained an eleventh hour run with this morning’s scratching of the 2024 Doncaster winner Celestial Legend.
“Super gutsy effort. I thought he got it cheap enough but when we started to roll, I thought he was going to get out-dashed,” Tyler Schiller, who won the TJ Smith Stakes on Briasa the race prior, said of Rise At Dawn.
“To his credit from the 200m he fought back again and hasn’t been beaten far at all.”
Unbelievably, there was under two lengths off this year’s Doncaster Mile winner and the 11th horse over the line with Gringotts only 1.66 lengths beaten.
John O’Shea & Tom Charlton‘s last start Randwick Guineas champ Linebacker jumped the $5.50 favourite and was far from disgraced running 1.18 lengths back eighth in a performance that impressed his hoop Zac Lloyd.
“He has gone enormous”, Lloyd said of the beaten favourite.
“Probably the best horse in the race. Just never executed. He didn’t begin. It put us right at the back.
“Gee he felt good. Never seen a horse look so good and not win a race. Tried his hardest.”
2025 Doncaster Mile Results
Doncaster Mile 2025 Odds & Results
The Star Doncaster Mile (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
8. Stefi Magnetica (5) J: Jason Collett 54.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
2nd
7. Royal Patronage (16) J: Tim Clark 54.5kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
||
|
3rd
18. Encap (3) J: Reece Jones 51kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
|
4th
21. Rise At Dawn (2) J: Tyler Schiller 51kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
||
|
5th
5. Pericles (13) J: Blake Shinn 55kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
6th
1. Another Wil (15) J: Jamie Melham 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
7th
3. Tom Kitten (1) J: Ben Melham 55.5kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
8th
20. Linebacker (11) J: Zac Lloyd 49kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
||
|
9th
14. Port Lockroy (10) J: Craig Williams 53.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
10th
6. Militarize (7) J: Chad Schofield 55kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
11th
2. Gringotts (6) J: Tommy Berry 55.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
12th
19. Firestorm (8) J: Jay Ford 50kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
13th
15. Al Mubhir (4) J: Andrea Atzeni 53kg
T: William Haggas |
||
|
14th
10. Moira (18) J: Zac Purton 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
15th
17. Iowna Merc (12) J: Ashley Morgan 52kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
16th
13. Kovalica (14) J: Kerrin McEvoy 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
17th
11. Just Folk (9) J: Daniel Moor 54kg
T: Gavin Bedggood |
||
|
18th
4. Geoglyph (20) J: Damian Lane 55kg
T: Tetsuya Kimura |
||
|
19th
16. New Energy (19) J: Dylan Gibbons 52.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
20th
9. Anisette (17) J: Michael Dee 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
Data retrieved: 16/05/2025 02:54:56 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
WHAT ARE YOU REALLY GAMBLING WITH?
For free and confidential call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
