He’s had 80 winners for the racing season, including 30 in town, and popular trainer Bjorn Baker will be looking to add to the win column as he travels far and wide this week.
With almost 150 horses registered under the care of Baker, the former Kiwi is always looking to place his gallopers where he thinks they can find the winner’s stall and this week will be no exception. He has runners engaged at Canterbury, Bathurst, Gosford, Goulburn, Randwick, Kembla Grange and is even having a throw at the stumps at a Group Two in Queensland on Saturday in the form of his Zoustar colt Thunderlips.
The two-year-old lines up in the $1 million BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m at Eagle Farm but Baker is realistic about his juvenile’s chances.
“He’s got a bit of an awkward gate but he ran a super race last time (sixth in the Group Two Spirit Of Boom Classic) and we were very happy with his run,” Baker said.
“His work since has been good. Big field, hard to be confident but he’s in there with a show.”
Staying closer to home Baker will saddle up Iowna Merc at Royal Randwick on Saturday with the son of Winning Rupert, a stallion Baker also trained, resuming after having two solid hitouts. The three-year-old did a fantastic job for connections when last in work winning twice and finishing second twice from just five outings, picking up almost $150,000 in earnings.
“He’s trialled really well, I think he’s a promising horse,” Baker said.
“He did a really good job in his first preparation and I think he’s come back even better.”
Baker also has the enigmatic Maurice’s Medad engaged at Sydney’s headquarters this weekend, a horse who has competed at the highest level in previous campaigns. The aptly named son of Maurice wasn’t disgraced finishing eighth in the Australian Guineas and seventh in the ATC Derby when racing as a three-year-old.
“First-up last time he ran a good race, he’s a little bit hit or miss there’s no doubt about that,” Baker said.
“But he’s trialled okay, he’ll appreciate the good track. 1300m is probably short of his best but he’s not out of it.”
Always mindful of replenishing his stock, Baker is looking forward to the debut of another Zoustar colt with Ozzmosis set to compete at Gosford on Thursday. The two-year-old is yet to taste defeat in three impressive metropolitan trials.
“I’ve got a nice first starter for Darby Racing on Thursday, he goes well and hopefully he can get to city grade at least,” Baker said.
“Barrier one and James Mcdonald on board, tick tick.”
As to what’s next for his sprinter Overpass who won the inaugural Quokka in Western Australia before a brave second in the Group One Doomben 10,000 behind Giga Kick, Baker is hopeful of drawing the attention of the remaining Everest slot holders.
“He’s gone for a break and we’ll set him for the spring, but he’s gone very well,” Baker said.
“He ran a good sixth in the race (The Everest) last year and on evidence we think he’s improved substantially. I’m hoping he’ll be better again next time.”
