Stephen Baster is hoping to upset some of the more highly fancied rivals for a second time running in the PB Lawrence Stakes.
Star Rolling provided Baster with a narrow victory in the Group Two race over 1400m at Caulfield last year and partners No Tricks in this year’s edition.
Victory on No Tricks would be a change of fortune for Baster who only recently returned to the saddle after overcoming tendonitis in an adductor, only to then go on and receive a careless riding suspension at his first meeting back.
And to make matters worse he heard the news during the week of his big spring hope Of The Brave being sidelined with a leg infection.
“That was the one I was really looking forward to for the spring, but that’s racing and it happens,” Baster said.
No Tricks, who has been nominated for the Caulfield Cup, is the $61 outsider in Saturday’s race and will be having her first start in Melbourne.
Trained by Baster’s father-in-law Wayne Walters, No Tricks was prepared in New Zealand by Jason Bridgman before Walters took over for her campaign in Queensland.
Before heading to Australia, No Tricks raced against some top New Zealand three-year-old company, chasing home the likes of Volkstok’n’barrell, Passing Shot and Vespa.
Baster rode the daughter of Savabeel at the first of five starts in Queensland.
“I rode her first-up in Brisbane after Wayne only got her two weeks beforehand and he didn’t really know what to expect,” Baster said.
“She didn’t really get around that way of going but was only beaten three lengths.
“She ran really well, but then I sacked myself.
“I said to Wayne he’d be better off using a local jockey as she struggled to get around the bends with me that way of going.”
Baster said No Tricks didn’t have a lot of luck in her two subsequent starts, which included finishing sixth to Winx in the Queensland Oaks.
She followed up with a narrow fourth in the Ipswich Cup before scoring at the Gold Coast in Listed grade on June 20 before a break.
Baster said he hasn’t been aboard No Tricks since but from all reports she is progressing well.
“He seems happy with her,” Baster said.
“He wouldn’t be running her if he wasn’t.”
