Having drawn a line through Stefi Magnetica’s first-up run, Bjorn Baker is hoping the Stradbroke Handicap winner can enjoy a change of fortune from a better draw in the George Ryder Stakes.
The mare was posted wide from an awkward gate when she resumed in the Canterbury Stakes (1300m), pushing forward before the turn and tiring late to finish almost five lengths in arrears of winner Royal Patronage.
While it wasn’t an ideal start to her preparation, Baker felt Stefi Magnetica did a good job not to be beaten further under the circumstances.
“It was (a tough watch), but I thought she was OK in terms of she didn’t finish a whole way behind them,” Baker said.
“She galloped well (on Tuesday) morning and off her work, we definitely go in with a chance.”
Stefi Magnetica is yet to win beyond 1400m but she finished a close fifth in the Golden Eagle (1500m) and was again highly competitive when fourth to weight-for-age heavyweight Mr Brightside in the Champions Mile (1600m) at Flemington in the spring.
The mare holds entries for the Doncaster Mile and the Queen Of The Turf Stakes over the Randwick carnival with her performance on Saturday to determine which will be her mission.
James Cummings has confirmed Tom Kitten has returned to Sydney to take his place in the George Ryder after downing Mr Brightside to claim the All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington.
The backmarker will almost certainly be spotting many of his rivals a tidy start from an outside gate and while Cummings admits that will be a challenge, he says his charge brings a fresh edge to the race.
“He brings the flex of a stylish win in that All-Star Mile to the Sydney form and the horses he was doing battle against down there in Melbourne, you couldn’t think they were any easier than the horses that were going around in Sydney,” Cummings said.
“I like the way he comes into this race third-up. He is going to have a bit to do because of the draw, but he’s going to run a race.”
