Champion 2-year-old honors now look at the mercy of Too Darn Hot colt Broadsiding after he produced a devastating performance to cruise to success in the J.J. Atkins Stakes (G1) at Eagle Farm.
Having become his sire's first group 1 winner in the Southern Hemisphere, and second globally, when landing Randwick's Champagne Stakes (G1) in April, the Godolphin homebred took his form to even further heights June 15.
"It's a demolition job!"
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 15, 2024
BROADSIDING made it look easy in the $1M J.J. Atkins (G1) at Eagle Farm (@BrisRacingClub) | @SkyRacingWorld. @JamesCummings88 trained 2yo Too Darn Hot (@DarleyEurope) colt, @mcacajamez in the saddle.
Bet the Daily Double: https://t.co/94x4eud4Q8 pic.twitter.com/TziW7p2td9
Sent off the hot favorite for Saturday's group 1, having returned from a month break with a comfortable victory in the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes (G2) June 1, Broadsiding traveled ominously well under James McDonald rounding the home bend.
Picking up the lead inside the final 300 meters, the James Cummings-trained juvenile shot clear when asked by his champion rider, effortlessly drawing away from his toiling rivals before eventually coming home an eased-down winner, defeating Bittercreek by 4 1/4 lengths with a nose back to Bosustow in third.
"He's such a good colt, so he certainly deserved his chance but great credit to the team who have managed through a big campaign," Cummings said.
"The only real doubt throughout the week for some was a dry track or perhaps even a long prep but I've got such a good team that I've been able to keep (him) fit and healthy, well, growing, and loving his training.
"He's what you love to look for in a 2-year-old, and yet he's got that dynamic motor, the way he cruised up into that race was effortless, and James just rode him like he was the best horse in the race—he was full of confidence in the horse."
McDonald, who was afforded the luxury of saluting the crowd inside the final 50 meters, feels Saturday's win was enough to confirm Broadsiding as the champion juvenile in Australia this season.
"Champion 2-year-old that one," McDonald, who was riding his first group 1 winner since landing Tokyo's Yasuda Kinen (G1) aboard 2023 Cox Plate (G1) hero Romantic Warrior June 2, said.
"He's a ball of muscle. He knows he's really good. He's a character, but James (Cummings) has done a phenomenal job. I can't stress how good a job he's done, to be fair.
"He keeps raising the bar but he's got a good colt on his hands. He's special. He is a fair dinkum 2-year-old and he will get stronger as he gets older. It is a pleasure to ride him."
The colt is the sole runner from two live foals out of the late Street Cry mare Speedway.
Stefi Magnetica Prevails in Stradbroke Handicap
In a race that provided a pair of firsts, while also keeping up a family tradition, Saturday's Stradbroke Handicap (G1) at Eagle Farm materialized into an epic success for brave filly Stefi Magnetica.
The 3-year-old filly STEFI MAGNETICA held off a game run by Bella Nipotina in the $3,000,000 Stradbroke Handicap (G1) at Eagle Farm (@BrisRacingClub) | @SkyRacingWorld. She gives @ZacLloydx his first Group 1 win. @BBakerRacing trained the daughter of @VineryStud's All Too Hard. pic.twitter.com/Iz8LxJso9b
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 15, 2024
The victory provided jockey Zac Lloyd and Cunningham Thoroughbreds with their first winner as sole owners on the elite stage and catapulted Stefi Magnetica to the elite stage.
The Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old quickened up stylishly to lead with 300 meters (about 1 1/2 furlongs) left to run, gamely held off the persistent challenge of a mare twice her age in dual group 1 winner Bella Nipotina to score by a neck, reversing the form of last month's Doomben Ten Thousand (G1).
The front pair came clear of the rest of the field, with Godolphin homebred Vilana, who was sent off the race favorite, a further two lengths behind in third place.
"I was very confident prerace. She galloped enormously on Tuesday," Lloyd said. "My dad and I went through the race thoroughly and we honestly thought we were on the right horse. The first furlong or two went perfect. She was in a good rhythm, she wasn't over racing.
"Just as a couple of horses started dropping back in our face I had to make a decision to go around with the pack but I ultimately thought there'd be too much traffic so I thought I was traveling so well I was happy to go inside of them.
"She was tough. I saw Bella Nipotina and I thought that was one horse you don't want to be in a finish with, but she was great.
"It is really good just to get that group 1 on my résumé. I've had some great opportunities in the past year or so and I haven't been able to capitalize. To get the job done today in a very big race, it is very special."
Saturday's victory also came a total of 12 years on from when Stefi Magnetica's dam, Mid Summer Music, landed the Stradbroke in 2012, a victory that ended a 76-year drought for mares in Queensland's group 1 at the time.
"Her mother won the race and she's now gone on and done it herself, so there's some amazing stories to this," Jim Clarke of Clarke Bloodstock, director of bloodstock for the Cunningham's operation Ridgmont, told ANZ Bloodstock News.
Consigned by her breeders Cressfield Stud to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Stefi Magnetica was purchased for AU$140,000 (US$100,946) by Cunningham Thoroughbreds, Clarke Bloodstock, and her trainer.
"We bought her as a yearling at Magics and the Cunningham family were very keen on her as a type and very keen on her pedigree as a potential breeding prospect in the future," Clarke said.
Clarke also spoke about the rise of Cunningham Thoroughbreds and their operation, Ridgmont Farm.
"For them to start the way they did, with one racehorse, arriving at the Magic Millions complex and not really having any connection to the industry at the time, is remarkable," he said.
"To go from buying a horse, to owning a stud farm, to now winning a group 1 race, it's very much a family passion driven by Mitch.
"They deserve all the success they've had and will continue to get."
