Bjorn Baker concedes Passeggiata faces a daunting task at Rosehill this Saturday at just her second start, but he wouldn’t ask the question of her if he didn’t think she was up to it.
The daughter of Winning Rupert jumps straight from provincial maiden grade to the $150,000 Kia Ora Farnan BM72 Handicap (1100m) after a dazzling debut win at Gosford.
Baker said the three-year-old demonstrated early on that she had above-average ability, but the Warwick Farm trainer was not sure she’d had the grounding to unleash the 3-1/2-length romp she did over 1000m on debut.
“I was a bit concerned with that first run because she’d only had one trial going into it, so I think she will be spot on with two-and-a-half weeks between runs,” Baker said.
“I think she’s pretty sensible, so from a good gate she will be able to use it around Rosehill for sure. I think she is a big chance.”
After the scratching of Sparring, Passeggiata will come into barrier four and has just 52kg to carry with Rachel King to retain the ride.
King’s ability to ride at the light weight was a factor in Baker’s decision to head to the tougher option in preference to an assignment on her home track during the week.
“We accepted on Wednesday and it was a tricky enough little race, you weigh it up and it’s worth a lot more on Saturday, so we’d love to go there and be competitive,” he said.
“It comes down to where she’s best placed and the fact she has no weight and the fact Rachel can stick with her definitely put us that way.”
