By Craig Kerry
It may already be the best season of his career, but Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker wanted to win an iconic Sydney race to complete it.
The Doncaster Mile fits that brief perfectly.
Bjorn Baker after winning the Doncaster Mile on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
Stefi Magnetica delivered an emotional Baker a career highlight when she surged late under Jason Collett to edge out Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Royal Patronage in the $4 million race on Saturday. Gary Portelli’s Encap, a $51 shot, was third.
Luckless at times in big races, Baker’s four-year-old mare was given a perfect run with cover before peeling out and finding a gap at the 300m mark.
It was a second group 1 win, after the Stradbroke Handicap, and put the icing on the cake of a remarkable run for Baker, who had 68 city winners this season before Saturday – second only to Chris Waller (101).
“It’s been a very special day for my family,” Baker said.
Stefi Magnetica comes down the outside to win the Doncaster.Credit: Getty Images
“[My father] Murray won five Derbies and it’s been a great day.
“I’ve got a great team. I work with one of my best mates every day, Luke Hilton. The owner of this horse, Jason [Vitek]. I’ve had a great relationship with him forever. So, very, very special.
“I’m very lucky. I’m having some good days. Even Stefi Magnetica winning the Stradroke and the Brisbane Cup [was special].
“But at the end of the day, I had to win an iconic Sydney race. I won the Winx Stakes and won the Tancred. So, that is what makes it special.”
‘We’ve got the Everest in mind, we’ve had it in mind since the Hunter.’
Trainer Michael Hawkes on Briasa
“Jason Collett, he’s a bit like me, he needed a big win during the Championships.”
Stefi Magnetica was eighth in the Canterbury Stakes and sixth in the George Ryder to start this campaign.
“Last time [out], I was a tad disappointed with her,” Baker said.
“She’s worked out great, she drew a gate today. Jason, great ride and she’s tough. We know she performs third up.”
Tyler Schiller and Stefi Magnetica after winning the TJ Smith Stakes on Sturday.Credit: Getty Images
Meanwhile, a tearful Michael Hawkes was ready for the calls from Everest slot-holders after Briasa lived up to expectations with a group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) win at Randwick on Saturday.
The four-year-old gelding, which rattled home from too far back for fourth in the Galaxy, was put into a perfect spot behind the leaders by Tyler Schiller and powered to the line for a head win over Overpass.
It was a seventh win in nine starts for Briasa, which now looks assured of a spot in the $20 million Everest in October.
“Everyone that knows me has known how much I’ve rated this horse,” Hawkes said.
Briasa’s connections are ready to field calls from Everest slot holders.Credit: Getty Images
“[Owner Ian Johnson] came down to the stables before he’d even raced with his son Anthony and he said, son is this the horse I’ve been dreaming of all my life? I said, sir, this will be the best horse you’ll ever have.
“As I said to a few of the press in the interviews that I’ve done, if it’s not today, it will come.”
He said the next target for Briasa, which was second up on Saturday, could be the All Aged Stakes in two weeks.
“We wanted to get past today first,” he said.
“We’ve got the Everest in mind, we’ve had it in mind since the Hunter [which he won in November].
“I was actually overseas and Wayne said to me, he said, what do you think of Newcastle? I said, mate, he’ll just win. He said you can’t keep making statements. I said, I’m telling you, it’ll just win.
“I told him again, he’ll win today. I don’t know, the ceiling is just so high.”
As for the Everest, he said: “I’m not worried in the slightest. There’ll be people calling.
“It’s been talked about. We’ve talked about it. Ian Johnson, he’s just amazing. They’ve put faith in us. [Son] Anthony [Johnson] has just said, do whatever you need to do.”
Private Harry is the only horse to officially secure a slot so far for this year’s Everest.
