Bjorn Baker is nothing if not bold and he has no hesitation in defying convention by pitting three-year-old filly Within The Law against some of Australia’s most seasoned weight-for-age stars in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.
Within The Law has never raced against horses outside her own age group and will have a rapid initiation when she lines up against the likes of Mr Brightside, Fangirl, Pride Of Jenni and last year’s winner Ceolwulf in Saturday’s Group 1.
However, Baker says several factors have convinced him to roll the dice, including the race’s position on the calendar and the fact she will carry just 48kg under the weight-for-age conditions.
“It’s something that hasn’t been tried, in recent times anyway, a three-year-old filly up against the older horses,” Baker said.
“It works out with timing.
“She was a good second in the Flight Stakes which was a relatively slowly run race. It looks to be a truly run race on Saturday.
“Then we have the option whether we go down to Melbourne two weeks later or we back her up in the Spring Champion (Stakes).
“She is in great order and she’s very genuine. It’s a tough ask but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Lightweight rider Rachel King will partner Within The Law while Josh Parr links with stablemate Pericles, whose two stars for Baker have yielded a Tramway Stakes (1400m) win and solid third in the Epsom Handicap (1600m).
Baker believes the five-time Group 1 placegetter is ready to run the best race of his campaign third-up, especially from a low draw in gate five.
“I was lucky enough to get a readymade horse off Godolphin and he’s been very straightforward,” he said.
“He was very good in the Tramway when he won first-up and he was excellent in the Epsom Handicap when he’d had four weeks between runs.
“The two weeks now into the King Charles, he is perfectly set up.”
The pair will form part of a 16-strong team for Baker at Randwick, who can’t recall having as many runners at a single meeting.
On the back of his best ever season in 2024-25, he is hoping to make a mark at what is now widely regarded as Sydney’s biggest race day of the year and says it is no fluke he is so strongly represented.
“I’m Sydney centric and we focus on Sydney,” Baker said.
“A lot of what we have been doing has been built around this day.”
As for his leading chance on the card?
“I’ve got Perfumist in the Angst Stakes and she’s in great order. She often takes a while to work into form but once she is in form she holds it,” he said.
“She is probably the best of the day.”
