Stefi back for more Stradbroke fun

By Jordan Gerrans

Stefi Magnetica will bid to become the first back-to-back Stradbroke Handicap champion in almost two decades with connections confirming she will head north this winter to defend her crown.

As a three-year-old filly last year, Stefi Magnetica emulated the feats of her mother Mid Summer Music who claimed Queensland’s famous Group 1 sprinting prize in 2012.

Queenslander Mitchell Cunningham races Stefi Magnetica and believes the galloper has what it takes to win the feature event again in 2025.

Cunningham operates Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Ridgmont Farm.

“That is likely the path we will take,” Cunningham said of Stefi Magnetica returning to Queensland this winter.

“The Stradbroke is Queensland’s darling race and we would love to go back-to-back with her and we think she has the quality to do it.”

After a long spell over the recent summer months, Stefi Magnetica has had two starts back in 2025, both being in Group 1 company in Sydney.

She had no luck in the Canterbury Stakes earlier this month in her first-up effort before she put in a fair run in Saturday’s George Ryder.

Ridden by Jason Collett for the first time in the George Ryder, the experienced hoop was pleased with the daughter of All Too Hard’s effort as she was beaten by a touch under two lengths.

“I found the right spot,” Collett said.

“I presented like the winner on straightening. But, she just did not have that last kick, late.”

Speaking in between the Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder runs, Cunningham was happy with the way his star mare had come on from her fresh assignment.

“She is looking better in the coat,” he said.

“She is fitter.”

The mare holds entries for the Doncaster Mile and the Queen Of The Turf Stakes over the Randwick carnival.

A Stradbroke Handicap champion has not returned to Eagle Farm to repeat their deeds since Black Piranha completed the back-to-back assignment across 2009 and 2010.

Trained by Con Karakatsanis, Black Piranha saved his best performances for the Sunshine State.

As well as elite-level galloper Stefi Magnetica, Cunningham’s ownership team are hopeful of having more representation in the 2025 Queensland Racing Carnival.

Arriving Home – who like Stefi Magnetica is prepared by Bjorn Baker - finished third in the recent Magic Millions Guineas at the Gold Coast.

“We will have a few others we will bring up as well as Stefi Magnetica - Arriving Home will be back up and she will probably go first-up into Scone and then come up to Brisbane for the carnival,” Cunningham said.

“There are other horses we will bring up potentially as well but that is still to be determined, we will see.

“Certainly, Stefi and Arriving Home will be flying the flag for Ridgmont.”