The Championships Day 1: Trainer Bjorn Baker brought to tears after winning Group 1 Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica at Randwick

Trainer Bjorn Baker was overcome with emotion after finally winning an “iconic Sydney race” he craved when Stefi Magnetica claimed the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick.

Stefi Magnetica grabs Royal Patronage (left) to win the Group 1 Doncaster Mile at Randwick. Picture: Bradley Photos

Bjorn Baker coveted a Sydney major so this was the win he had to have.

As Stefi Magnetica poked her nose in front right on the line in a memorable finish to the Group 1 $4m Doncaster Mile (2400m), Baker was overcome with emotion.

Usually renowned for his post-race celebrations, this was a different side to Baker we haven’t seen before.

Tears welled in his eyes and he was momentarily lost for words before he revealed what the Doncaster win meant to him.

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“I had to win an iconic Sydney race,” Baker admitted.

“I’ve won Group 1 races here like the Winx Stakes and the Tancred Stakes but I needed one of these majors.

“The Doncaster is one of those big Group 1 races every trainer wants to win. It’s a great race and this has been a special day for my family.”

In a blanket finish where less than 1½ lengths separated the top 10 finishers, Stefi Magnetica ($18), ridden by Jason Collett, finished fast to win the Doncaster by a head from a very game Royal Patronage ($18) with Encap ($51) flashing through late for third, a half neck away.

Linebacker, the $5.50 favourite, didn’t muster speed early and settled back near the rear of the field and was simply giving away too much start before working home to finish eighth, beaten just over a length.

Zac Lloyd, rider of Linebacker, said the three-year-old has “gone enormous”.

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

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“He’s probably the best horse in the race but just never executed,” Lloyd said.

“He didn’t begin, it put us right at the back but gee he felt good. I’ve never seen a horse look so good and not win a race.”

Baker’s Doncaster win came on a day when his father, Murray, also made his mark with five wins in the ATC Australian Derby.

“I remember being here in 2008 when Murray won the Derby with Nom De Jeu and Chris Waller trained his first Group 1 winner with Triple Honour in the Doncaster and it has always been a goal of mine to win a big one on this day,” Baker said.

“My father, Murray, won five (ATC Australian) Derbies on this day so it means a lot to me to win the Doncaster.

“Murray’s retired now but he still watches all the races and he still gives me plenty of advice. He tells me how I can do things better.

“But no one has been more influential to my career than Murray – he would be very proud today.”

Bjorn Baker was overcome with emotion. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Baker’s Doncaster win caps a remarkable season where his Warwick Farm-based stable has soared into second position on the Sydney trainers premiership. The trainer also won another of the feature Randwick miles, the Group 2 Villiers Stakes with Robusto back in December.

“I needed this and my team needed it,” Baker said.

“I’m super competitive and it is very, very special. Last time I was a tad disappointed with her but it just worked out great.

“She drew a gate today, great ride from Jason, and she’s tough. We know she performs third-up.

“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 and she was so good today.”

Stefi Magnetica scored her second win at Group 1 level after her Stradbroke Handicap success last year and took her career earnings to over $5.7m.

Collett has ridden more winners (112) for Baker than any other jockey so it was apt he could provide the trainer with his biggest career win in the Doncaster.

“I’m the luckiest man in the world!”

This interview with @BBakerRacing after Stefi Magnetica’s win in the Doncaster Mile has it all - passion, emotion and laughs! 💕@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/TmtQTPSojK

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 5, 2025

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“I’m kind of shocked, to be honest. I was in front at the line and was like, ‘holy hell, sh-t I’ve just won’,” Collett said.

“I don’t know, 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 looks awful in the yard, we’ve got to be frank here, but she did come on a lot from that last start performance and I liked her gallop better on the Tuesday.

“Bjorn said ‘get to the fence, but not like you did in the Slipper’ and the race just worked out well for her. I’m just a bit taken aback by this moment.”

Royal Patronage’s effort to finish a close second was outstanding considering he was three-wide without cover for most of the race.

“It was a huge performance,” said jockey Tim Clark.

“He was wide early and wasn’t able to get in behind one so we had to race outside the leaders but he went down fighting.”

Encap’s jockey Reece Jones felt the Gary Portelli-trained gelding was unlucky not to win the Doncaster.

“He was tremendous wasn’t he, I just wish I could have held that one spot closer but he couldn’t get there comfortably,” Jones said.

“He showed an amazing turn of foot to just miss.”

Originally published as The Championships Day 1: Trainer Bjorn Baker brought to tears after winning Group 1 Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica at Randwick