Bjorn Baker is backing Paradoxium to follow the path blazed by Unencumbered and O’Ole after the colt posted a dominant victory in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic.
Both the ill-fated Unencumbered (2013) and filly O’Ole (2024) won the lead-up race at Wyong before going on to claim the rich Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast a month later.
Baker believes Paradoxium ($2.35 fav) is capable of achieving the same after he kicked clear to take out Wednesday’s 1100m sprint by 2-3/4 lengths over Mystical ($6) with the winner’s stablemate Masvingo ($5) another long neck away third.
“We’re in the Magic Millions now and I’m hoping third time lucky. I have won this race twice before and they’ve gone on to win it,” Baker said.
“I think this guy is as good, if not better, than all of them. Very, very exciting.
“Masvingo was good too. She has picked up more money and hopefully we can get her there too.”
A son of Extreme Choice who cost $400,000 at this year’s January sale at the Gold Coast, Paradoxium finished fourth in the Breeders’ Plate (1000m) on debut and won two subsequent barrier trials in the lead-up to his Wyong return.
Despite being taken on in the lead by Seeiaye, the colt was able to surge again for Jason Collett and never looked in danger.
“He copped some pressure early, he soaked it up and he kicked off it, which was good,” Collett said.
“I’m excited riding nice two-year-olds like him.”
Baker has trained some handy juveniles but says this year’s crop are shaping up as his most talented to date.
“I think I have got the best bunch of two-year-olds I’ve ever had, and by a margin,” he said.
“We’re buying good horses with good pedigrees and fast horses and that’s what it’s about.”
Paradoxium has been pencilled in for another start in the B J McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 27 on the way to the Magic Millions Classic on January 17.
The Magic Millions Wyong 3YO & 4YO Stakes (1200m) was taken out by The Three Hundred ($6.50) in a driving finish, the Tulloch Lodge gelding getting the verdict by a long head over the fast-finishing King Of Roseau ($2.80) with Spywire ($2.30 fav) another short half-head away third.
The trio got tight over the final stages and the jockeys on the two placegetters fired in protests against Tim Clark on the winner, but both objections were dismissed by stewards.
