Trainer Murray Baker and jockey Opie Bosson have already had a spring to remember but the biggest moment might still be to come.
The New Zealanders combined for another feature win at Moonee Valley on Saturday when Turn Me Loose led all the way in the Group Two Crystal Mile.
It came a week after they claimed the $3 million Caulfield Cup with Mongolian Khan and six days after Turn Me Loose’s Seymour Cup win.
Now the Melbourne Cup carnival is on the doorstep and Mongolian Khan is the third favourite behind Japanese horse Fame Game and Caulfield Cup runner-up Trip To Paris.
Baker is thrilled with the way Mongolian Khan has come out of his strong Caulfield Cup victory.
“He’s thriving. He’s absolutely thriving,” Baker said.
“He’s an easy horse to train. We don’t have any problems with him.”
Turn Me Loose will head to the $1 million Group One Emirates Stakes on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival.
Baker has been bringing horses to Australia for decades and has achieved plenty of big race successes in Derbys and other feature races with the likes of The Phantom, Nom Du Jeu, Lion Tamer and It’s A Dundeel.
He said the prize money in Australia compared to New Zealand was a compelling reason to bring horses across the Tasman.
“If you’ve got a good horse you’ve got to have a go because the prize money in New Zealand is so low. That’s the problem,” Baker said.
“There’s no doubt that the kiwi jockeys, kiwi trainers and kiwi horses can measure up. They’ve just got to be given the chance.”
For Bosson, the Crystal Mile was his fourth stakes win from his past six rides in Victoria within two weeks.
He also claimed a winning treble in New Zealand from nine rides on Wednesday.
“He’s a fantastic rider,” Baker said.
“His record tells you that. I think he’s only five (Group One) wins behind Lance O’Sullivan in New Zealand, our greatest jockey, and he’s probably ridden half as much.
“It just tells you how good he is. He’s a complete rider.”
