‘They’ll know she’s around’: Baker unfazed by Stefi’s first-up record

Bjorn Baker concedes, reluctantly, Stefi Magnetica has only once been a first-up winner at Orange, but he won’t let it dull his confidence heading into Saturday’s Apollo Stakes.

The Stradbroke and Doncaster winning mare will return against a raft of Chris Waller’s stars over 1400m and Baker has trained her to be sharp and believes she could make light of her record of one from seven with two placings first-up.

“I know the record says she has only won once resuming, but, gee, she has been unlucky a few times,” Baker said.

“She was second in The Shorts, and in another stride, she wins over 1100m, and she is better suited at 1400m.”

“We have had this race in mind with her for a while, she has the freshness in her legs and her trials have been perfect.”

“They will know she is around on Saturday.”

Stefi Magentica won her first barrier trial from Verona Rose and Angel Capital before taking a couple of lengths out of Shangri La Boy in the final furlong of her second hit out at Canterbury last week.

However, she was surprisingly posted at $11 for the weight-for-age Group 2, where the unbeaten Autumn Glow has been backed from $2 to $1.70 as favourite with Aeliana at $5, Lindermann at $6 and Ceolwulf at $7.

“They are the best horses around and she is right there with them,” Baker said.

“It is a starting point for what I think could be her best preparation.”

Callabus is likely to stay in Sydney for the Expressway Stakes on Saturday, a race Baker has won with his Group 1 winners Overpass and Music Magnate, instead of taking on the challenge of the Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

“I think the 1200m probably suits him better and it opens up a few more options for him,” Baker said. “He continues to improve and there are Group 1 races for this prep.”