Since breaking the 1100m record at Bathurst, Bjorn Baker trained Vega has not run a place in 6 runs, in fact, beating just an average of 2 runners home in each run. The 4-year-old gelding was more than impressive when breaking the track record, remarkably carrying 61 kilos and coming from last at the 400m to win by almost 3 lengths.
Making his debut in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes in 2016, the half to Vega Magic looked primed for a big career however showing early signs of unpredictability, the track-record holder took 5 starts and 10 trials to break his maiden, again taking another 6 starts to score victory number 2.
Hoping to get out of his current funk, the Lope De Vega gelding will start at Canterbury tomorrow in a benchmark 74 over 1550m, winning in his only start over the distance to date. Carrying only 55 and a half kilos, he will get a significant weight relief of almost 6 kg from his record breaking run.
Going on previous trends, the 4-year-old appears to be due for a win with his best runs looking competitive on paper. Frustratingly for Bjorn Baker and connections however, his runner went from running a 10.24 split between the 400 and 200 at a top speed of 70.31 kp/h at Bathurst, to beating no runners home just 2 starts later carrying 3 kg less.
In more positive signs for the inconsistent galloper, he has previously won and won well over 1600m, in fact his best time of 96.08 over 1580 at this track rates very well in comparison to the rest of the field, giving the 4-time winner a chance to run a cheeky race in the field of 7.
Stepping out in the 4th at Canterbury, Vega is ideally drawn in barrier 5 with the experienced Tim Clark to ride for Bjorn Baker. Offering plenty of value for punters, the outsider is $13 fixed with the TAB, currently offering $3.40 to fill the minors.
