
Twelve months after Stefi Magnetica showcased her potential with an impressive fourth-place finish in the Light Fingers Stakes, trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping to unveil another rising star in the same event.
Dance To The Boom is set to make her debut at Group level in Saturday’s edition of the fillies’ feature at Randwick, aiming to continue her flawless three-race winning streak.
Following victories at Kembla Grange in August and Canterbury in December, the talented three-year-old secured a breakthrough win in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) over summer. That triumph earned her a place in the early Sydney carnival races.
Now, Baker is eager to see how she handles the jump in class in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m), with an eye on stepping her up further.
Stefi Magnetica used the Light Fingers as a launching pad last year before finishing a close second to Tropical Squall in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), a race Baker is targeting with Dance To The Boom.
“We’d love to get her up to 1400 metres for the Surround. If she can run a decent race on Saturday, we will go to the Surround with a touch of confidence,” Baker said.
“Stefi Magnetica ran a close second in the Surround last year so I’d love to take Dance To The Boom there.
“I think she’s a very good filly and perhaps still a little bit under-rated.
“She has got to overcome an awkward gate in 15 of 15, so we’ll leave it up to Kerrin McEvoy. He rode her in her trial and got a bit of a feel for her. He was impressed with her that day.”
Baker will also have two runners in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) for mares, with both the speedy Bonita Queen and the ever-consistent Spring Lee lining up.
Bonita Queen, known for her front-running style, will benefit from a significant weight drop after carrying 61.5kg when finishing third behind Cosmanova in her most recent start. Meanwhile, Baker believes Spring Lee will be much fitter after two runs this preparation.
“I think Bonita Queen will be in front for a long way. She is rock-hard fit, she’s third-up, she drops eight-and-a-half kilos and is in with no weight, so we will definitely be positive with her,” he said.
“There’s not too much between Bonita Queen and Spring Lee and a Group Three race would be very important on both their resumes.”