Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Doncaster Mile

This is what the jockeys had to say after the running of the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.

Jason Collett returns to scale with Stefi Magnetica after the mare won the Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

Classy mare Stefi Magnetica gave trainer Bjorn Baker and jockey Jason Collett the biggest wins of their careers when claiming the $4 million Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Stefi Magnetica pounced over the latter stages to defeat Royal Patronage and Encap.

The $5.50 favourite Linebacker got too far back in a slowly run race before charging home to finish outside the placings.

Stradbroke winner Stefi Magnetica reigns supreme in the G1 Doncaster Mile, as @BBakerRacing and Jason Collett celebrate another success ! 🙌@aus_turf_club | @WorldPoolpic.twitter.com/13Mkg5tEdS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

The win was Stefi Magnetica’s fourth from 20 starts and took her earnings to more than $5.6 million.

The four-year-old mare by All Too Hard in now a two-time Group 1 winner having last year won Queensland’s biggest race, the Stradbroke Handicap.

This is what the riders thought of their mount’s performance in the Doncaster Mile.

1st - STEFI MAGNETICA (Jason Collett) I’m kind of shocked, to be honest. I was in front at the line and was like, ‘holy hell, sh** I’ve just won. I was just trying to get her comfortable. Most of that race they went a very slow tempo but I was in the right spot and her turn of foot was electric. She’s unbelievable

2nd - ROYAL PATRONAGE (Tim Clark) Huge performance. Wide early and wasn’t able to get in behind one. Had to race outside the leaders. Went down fighting. Great effort.

3rd - ENCAP (Reece Jones) He was tremendous wasn’t he. Just wish I could have held that one spot closer. Couldn’t get there comfortably. Showed a tremendous turn of foot to just miss. Going really well especially on a four day turn around.

4th - RISE AT DAWN (Tyler Schiller) Super gutsy effort. I thought he got it cheap enough but when we started to roll I thought he was going to get out-dashed. To his credit from the 200m he fought back again and hasn’t been beaten far at all.

5th - PERICLES (Blake Shinn) Very gallant. He ran fifth. He was brave right until the end. Can’t fault him.

6th - ANOTHER WIL (Jamie Melham) He was good. OK without being brilliant. Maybe the All Star Mile run took a bit of confidence out of him which it should have. Hopefully today he has gotten around in one piece. Hope it gives him confidence.

7th - TOM KITTEN (Ben Melham) He ran well. He just got a little aggressive with the lack of tempo.

8th - LINEBACKER (Zac Lloyd) He has gone enormous. Probably the best horse in the race. Just never executed. He didn’t begin. It put us right at the back. Gee he felt good. Never seen a horse look so good and not win a race. Tried his hardest.

9th - PORT LOCKROY (Craig Williams) Acquitted himself really well. A competitive lot, got onto the back of the second horse and followed by Another Wil and wasn’t beaten far. Creditable run but they are good horses.

10th - MILITARIZE (Chad Schofield) Terrific return to form. He was really good there.

11th - GRINGOTTS (Tommy Berry) I just think the two weeks between runs. It is easy in hindsight. He travelled really well like the winner but didn’t let down the same. Might have peaked a couple of weeks ago.

12th - FIRESTORM (Jay Ford) Struggled. Not as dynamic as her previous runs. Tried to hold a position early but couldn’t muster enough. Once I got to the outside, looking for her booming finish. Only grinded to the line.

13th - AL MUBHIR (Andrea Atzeni) We had a good trip from a good draw but the pace was too slow. Pulled too hard and more juice in the ground as well.

14th - MOIRA (Zac Purton) She got a little bit lost prior to straightening. Lost her rhythm. She will be fine. Just needs time to settle.

15th - IOWNA MERC (Ashley Morgan) I thought his run was really good. Bad barrier didn’t allow us to ride him to his strength. Drew a nice gate would have run a race.

16th - KOVALICA (Kerrin McEvoy) He ran a respectable race. Just out-sprinted when they dashed for home.

17th - JUST FOLK (Daniel Moor) He needs wetter ground to perform against this class of horse.

18th - GEOGLYPH (Damian Lane) Missed the jump and then got too far back. Never got into it.

19th - NEW ENERGY (Dylan Gibbons) They wanted me to play it safe to get him to settle. They absolutely crawled so a waste of a run.

20th - ANISETTE (Michael Dee) Just struggled from a bad gate. Couldn’t finish.

Originally published as Post-race jockey reports from the 2025 Doncaster Mile