Gun apprentice Zac Lloyd has celebrated his maiden Group 1 win in Queensland’s most prestigious race aboard Staff Magnetica.
Zac Lloyd has finally been able to savour a Group one of his own with a memorable Stradbroke Handicap triumph aboard Stefi Magnetica,having watched close mates and fellow riders Tyler Schiller and Dylan Gibbons break through for Group One wins.
Last season’s champion Sydney apprentice, Lloyd is regarded as one of the country’s most promising young jockeys and has been knocking on the door for a major.
His moment arrived at Eagle Farm on Saturday aboard the Bjorn Baker -trained filly Stefi Magnetica, the pair overcoming a wide draw and defiant challenge from bonny mare Bella Nipotina to narrowly deny her in the $3 million race.
“Results speak louder than words and it’s really good to get that Group One on my resume,” Lloyd said.
“I’ve had some great opportunities in the last year or so and I haven’t been able to capitalise, so to get the job done today in a very big race, it’s very special and hopefully that propels my career to greater heights.”
Lloyd said he went into the race confident he was on the right horse in Stefi Magnetica, who Baker decided to target at the Brisbane winter following her narrow second in the Group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick in March.
The three-year-old Stefi Magnetica settled well back in the big Stradbroke field but Lloyd was able to pinch ground along the inside before steering her to the middle of the track in the straight.
“I was travelling so well I was happy to go inside of them and Stefi Magnetica is really tough,” Lloyd said.
“I saw Bella Nipotina and I thought, she’s one horse you don’t want to be in a finish with, but she (Stefi Magnetica) was great.”
Stefi Magnetica became the first filly to win the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) since La Montagna in 2006 while also emulating the achievement of her dam Mid Summer Music, who won the corresponding race in 2012.
Lloyd’s manager and father, former top jockey Jeff, was one of the first to congratulate him, saying he was immensely proud of his son – even if he didn’t follow their game plan.
“We went through the race for a couple of hours this morning and after a furlong I said, ‘well that was a waste of time’. He ended up on the rails and near the back,” Jeff Lloyd said.
“He has been crying out to win a Group One and to win it in Queensland, my hometown, I couldn’t be prouder.”
With a six kilo pull in the weights, Stefi Magnetica ($15) scored by a half-neck over a brave Bella Nipotina ($15) with Vilana ($4.80 betting fav) two lengths away third.
The runner-up’s jockey Craig Williams said the Doomben 10,000 winner was typically courageous under her 56kg topweight.
“Amazing horse. The stable said she’d improved coming into today,” Williams said.
“She offset a tricky barrier draw and was very gallant in defeat.”
Read the comments from each of the jockeys on their mounts in the Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm.
Zac Lloyd (Stefi Magnetica): “I was fine the whole time cantering back but to see my dad has got me emotional.”
“I was very confident pre-race. Stefi Magnetica 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.
“Stefi Magnetica 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.” he said aboard Stefi Magnetica.
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.”
Tim Clark (Vilana): “He ran terrific. He got in a good spot, he presented and was very courageous.”
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.”
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.”
Jason Collett (Nugget): “He had a wide run to never cover. On that track the 1400 is just a bit quick for him.”
Daniel Stackhouse (Benedetta): “She travelled ok. Took off the bridle earlier than I wanted to but she struggled to really quicken. Honest run.”
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.”
Dylan Gibbons (Semana): “Slipped on jumping and was well back from there. Didn’t cut the corner and that was her race.”
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.”
Vlad Duric (Antino): “Walked out of the gates and that was about the end of our race.”
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.”
Michael Dee (Magic Time): “Probably looking for a break now. She’s just not the same horse since Sydney.”
Tommy Berry (Cepheus): “Had a tough run from a bad barrier.”
Damien Thornton (Mighty Ulysses): “He pulled as he can do. Track is probably too firm for him.”
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.”
Regan Bayliss (Here To Shock): No comment taken.
Like Mother Like Daughter – Stefi Magnetica Triumphs in Group 1 Stradbroke
Twelve years after Mid Summer Music scaled the heights in the Group 1 Stradbroke Hcp, her 3-year-old daughter Stefi Magnetica equalled the feat in the $3,000,000 feature at Eagle Farm.
Stefi Magnetica edges Bella Nipotina
Eleven months after breaking her maiden at Wellington in country NSW, the Bjorn Baker-trained daughter of All Too Hard, Stefi Magnetica received a Group 1 ride by Zac Lloyd to defeat the painfully courageous Pride Of Dubai mare Bella Nipotina by a half-neck with the Hallowed Crown gelding Vilana two lengths back in third.
Stefi Magnetica rose to fame similarly to her dam Mid Summer Music, who broke her maiden as a 4-year-old in February 2010 when she was a 5-length winner of a Warracknabeal maiden.
It was only due to the persistence of Linda Meech that her career did not end there. The daughter of Oamaru Force still had plenty to do to make a believer in Peter Moody, who was her greatest fan by the time she headed to the broodmare paddock with four stakes wins highlighted by her defeat of Buffering in the 2012 Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
“She’s an amazing filly. Stefi Magnetica won a Wellington two-year-old race at the back end of the season, she won a BM58 at Orange in December, and she was just chinned in the Surround,” Clarke recounted.
“Bjorn opted to give Stefi Magnetica 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.
Group 1 glory for Stefi Magnetica
“It was an amazing ride there. To win Queensland’s greatest race with Stefi Magnetica 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.”
It was the first Group 1 for an emotional Zac Llolyd.
“I was fine the whole time cantering back, but to see my dad has got me emotional,” Lloyd said.
“I was very confident pre-race. Stefi Magnetica 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. Stefi Magnetica was in a good rhythm, Stefi Magnetica 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.
“Stefi Magnetica 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 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.”
Stefi Magnetica was a $140,000 purchase for Cunningham Thoroughbreds/Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA)/Bjorn Baker Racing from the Cressfield draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Stefi Magnetica advances her record to three wins, two seconds, and four thirds from 13 starts with earnings of $2,125,800.
A half-sister to the Group III MVRC Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Hellfest (Hellbent), and stakes-placed winner Euphoric Summer (Not a Single Doubt), Stefi Magnetica is the best of five winners from as many to race for Mid Summer Music.
Sent to the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Mid Summer Music was purchased by Tyreel Stud for $300,000.
Covered by All Too Hard, she was back in the ring a year later at the Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale, where Bruce Perry Bloodstock purchased her on behalf of Cressfield Stud for $375,000.
Scott Waters shelled out $100,000 for Mid Summer Music’s Bivouac filly from the Cressfield draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Mid Summer Music revisited All Too Hard last spring, having missed to him in 2022.
Stefi Magnetica is the 25th stakes-winner and fifth Group 1 winner for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, who stands for $38,500 in 2024.
Kurrinda Bloodstock, known for its reliability and success as a syndicator, provides a pathway for clients to experience the thrill of racehorse ownership, even aspiring to own a horse as prestigious as Stefi Magnetica. Here’s how they make this possible:
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Owning a racehorse outright can be prohibitively expensive, but Kurrinda Bloodstock lowers this barrier through syndication. By offering shares in a racehorse, they make ownership accessible to a broader range of enthusiasts. This model allows clients to invest at a level that suits their budget, spreading the cost of purchase and upkeep among multiple owners.
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Kurrinda provides end-to-end management services, covering everything from horse selection and training to race day preparations and post-race care. Clients benefit from professional handling without needing to manage the day-to-day responsibilities, making the experience of racehorse ownership seamless and enjoyable.
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Maintaining trust through transparency, Kurrinda Bloodstock ensures clients are regularly informed about their horse’s progress, health, and racing prospects. This communication includes detailed reports, updates, and access to industry insights, enabling owners to feel connected and involved in their horse’s journey.
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Investing with Kurrinda Bloodstock connects clients with a community of like-minded racing enthusiasts. This network provides opportunities for shared experiences, knowledge exchange, and participation in racing events, enhancing the overall ownership experience.
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While racing is inherently uncertain, Kurrinda’s proven strategy and thoroughbred expertise aim to maximize the potential for financial returns. Successful syndication, as demonstrated by horses like Stefi Magnetica, can offer significant rewards both emotionally and financially for investors.
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Through affordable entry points and expert guidance, Kurrinda Bloodstock turns the dream of owning a racehorse into a tangible reality. Whether clients are new to the racing world or seasoned investors, Kurrinda facilitates the experience of competing at top levels, with the possibility of achieving success reminiscent of Stefi Magnetica.
In summary, Kurrinda Bloodstock stands out as a trusted syndicator by combining affordability, professional management, and a proven track record. This enables clients to dream big, participate in the exhilarating world of horse racing, and potentially share in the glory of owning a top-tier horse like Stefi Magnetica.
Meet Tagaloa X Jasmine Wind
https://kbloodstock.com.au/our-horses/tagaloa-x-jasmine-wind/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F07Qza1EHc
This Filly is by Yulong Stud’s exciting young sire Tagaloa and out of the Sebring mare Jasmine Wind. Tagaloa was an impressive winner of the 2 year old Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at 1200m.
A race with a rich history for producing top class stallions including Redoute’s Choice, Extreme Choice and Written By.
This Fillies dam Jasmine Wind has a pedigree littered with black type being a sister to no less than three individual stakes performers and is a from a family we know quite well.
Tagaloa has been heavily supported by the industry with some of the best judges around securing them.
This Filly was one of the best moving fillies at the Magic Millions Adelaide sale, she is a very athletic individual, well balanced and covers the ground with ease.
She oozed class and showed a fantastic attitude throughout, we quickly zone in on her as the filly of the sale.
This Filly will be trained by Mitch Freedman Racing. Mitch is one of the hottest up and coming trainers in Australia with the likes of Group 1 performers Attrition and Skybird.
This filly will be trained out of the state of the art Ballarat facilities and will have every chance.
This Filly is eligible for the lucrative Magic Millions race series and VOBIS bonus scheme.
Could this filly be a future Stefi Magnetica?
To view all of our available syndicates head over to our website now to check out all the exciting opportunities available and possibly get involved in a potential star in the future like Stefi Magnetica https://kbloodstock.com.au