Fuerza could play the role of spoiler among the Golden Slipper aspirants in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes.
The winner of the Group Three Skyline (1200m) gains automatic entry to the $3.5 million Golden Slipper on April 6 but the race is not on the program for Fuerza.
Trainer Bjorn Baker has the Group One Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on April 13 as the target for the colt he bought on spec at the Inglis Classic Sale.
“I paid $32,000 for him and I had no owners when I bought him,” Baker said.
“He’s not going to the Slipper. All going well he will head to the Sires’ Produce Stakes.”
Fuerza’s two second place cheques from his two starts give Baker cause to think he can be a force in the Skyline.
He finished a half neck behind his stablemate Twilight Royale on debut in the Inglis Nursery at Warwick Farm in December and was beaten a half head by Marseille Roulette in the rich Inglis Classic in January.
Twilight Royale has gone on to prove herself with victory in the Inglis Premier at Mornington and an even more important win in the Group Two VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington last Saturday.
It was a first Group success for Baker since he left the security of a partnership with his New Zealand-based father Murray to strike out on his own in Sydney.
Early markets have Fuerza on the second line of Skyline betting alongside Dothraki with the John Sargent-trained Good Job Bro the early favourite.
The Gerald Ryan-trained Dothraki was the subject of early support for the Magic Millions and the Golden Slipper before his debut in December.
He made amends for his fifth as favourite in the Wyong Magic Millions when he won on December 29 but he was galloped on and Ryan ruled him out of the Magic Millions to concentrate on the autumn.
“I’m happy with how he’s going but the penny still hasn’t dropped yet,” Ryan said.
“He can only get better with racing.”
While the Slipper is off the table for Fuerza, Baker has not given up on Tropical Force making her way to the race.
She has had one start for a second and is a $13 chance in early markets for Saturday’s fillies qualifier, the Sweet Embrace Stakes with Assail at the top of betting.
“We will leave our options open with her,” Baker said.
“If she happened to win then she could go on.”
The Clarry Conners-trained Assail was the dominant favourite for the Magic Millions but was scratched on race morning with a foot abscess.
