Lightly raced sprinter Music Magnate’s winning form has earned him a trip to the big stage in Melbourne.
The four-year-old was a strong winner of the October Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday with trainer Bjorn Baker flagging a start in the Group Two tab.com.au (1200m) at Flemington on October 31.
“There is a Listed race at Hawkesbury over 1400 metres but I’d like to take him for the 1200-metre race down the straight on Derby day,” Baker said.
“While he’s in winning form I want to keep him going.”
Ridden by Brenton Avdulla Music Magnate, the $2.30 favourite, travelled comfortably in third most of the race and extended inside the final 200m to put 1-1/4 lengths on San Diego ($6) with a short neck to Cosmic Cube ($9.50).
The victory came after a Rosehill victory two weeks ago and took Music Magnate’s record to four wins from nine starts.
Baker praised Avdulla saying he had gone to a new level while trainer Gary Moore was effusive about apprentice Regan Bayliss after his win on Dream Choice in the TFE Hotels (1200m).
Bayliss, who is indentured to dual-state trainer Peter Moody, will spend the next two months in Sydney while many of the leading jockeys are riding in Melbourne.
“We dropped a lot in weight from his last start at Canberra,” Moore said.
“The horse is well, and we put the blinkers back on and this boy (Regan Bayliss) can ride.”
Another Melbourne apprentice, Jordan Childs, will spend the next month with Gai Waterhouse and familiarised himself with Randwick on Saturday, helping saddle the horses.
“I’m suspended until Monday and I’m really keen to get back into it,” Childs said.
Baker and Avdulla made it a double when Herne’s Oak won the Spring Fashion Handicap (2000m).
