Tenacious mare Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) gave Vinery’s king of consistency another Group One win on Saturday when taking out the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on Day One of The Championships at Royal Randwick.

Trained at Warwick Farm by the in-form Bjorn Baker and ridden by Jason Collett, the four-year-old mare was quickly away from the gates before finding cover and settling close to mid-field. Hard held between runners on the turn, she found clear running at the 300m mark and fought hard to the line to overpower Royal Patronage (Wootton Bassett) in the last stride.

It was an emotional return to the winners’ circle for last year’s Group One Stradbroke Handicap heroine who was having her third start this preparation.

“I must say it’s a massive, massive thrill. 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,” said Baker in the post-race interview.

“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.”

When asked about Stefi Magnetica’s performance, Baker was quick to praise the mare’s toughness, a trait that has become synonymous with the progeny of All Too Hard.

“She’s not the biggest, but she’s the toughest. She’s her own personality. She’s a tough, tough, young lady and she’s been up against the best.”

“(She is) very valuable for Ridgmont, the Cunningham family, and she is, she’s worth a fortune.”

Stefi Magnetica was a $140,000 yearling purchase for Cunningham Thoroughbreds, Bjorn Baker and bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Saturday’s victory takes her record to four wins from 20 starts and more than $5.6 million in prizemoney.

In a case of ‘like mother, like daughter’ she is out of the 2012 Stradbroke Handicap winner Mid Summer Music (Omaru Force) who is also the dam of the Stakes-placed Euphoric Summer (Not A Single Doubt).

All Too Hard is the sire of five individual Group One winners including Stefi Magnetica, Alligator Blood, Forbidden Love, Behemoth and Champion Hong Kong Sprinter, Wellington. Remarkably, they have won 16 Group Ones between them, further highlighting his ability to breed tough, sound horses who can consistently compete at the highest level.