Trainer Bjorn Baker has revealed that both the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup are firmly on the radar for his seasoned stayer Arapaho, with the rising nine-year-old set to resume racing next month.
Arapaho, last seen dominating the Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200m in April, is pencilled in to kick off his spring preparation in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at Randwick on August 23.
“He’s probably going to trial next week but he’s going really, really well and I’m looking forward to hopefully getting him down to the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups,” Baker said on Tuesday.
Arapaho’s recent campaign included a narrow second in the Sky High Stakes behind Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban, and a fourth in the Tancred Stakes, both strong lead-ups to his Sydney Cup triumph where he smashed the track record.
Baker said the early stages of Arapaho’s campaign will be focused in Sydney before heading south later in the spring. Notably, Arapaho also claimed the Group 2 Zipping Classic over the Caulfield Cup distance last year.
“For sure, he broke the track record in the Sydney Cup so that’s pretty good form and we’ll definitely look at it,” Baker said. “Look, he’s going to be a nine-year-old, but I think he’s going better than ever. He’s big and strong and doing everything really well. He looks fantastic and is coming along really well.”
Although Arapaho has yet to contest a Caulfield Cup, he has previously run in the Melbourne Cup, finishing 11th behind Gold Trip in 2022.
“He finished 11th and he was deep within his preparation,” Baker said. “No doubt he’s a much better horse now.”
The seasoned stayer is one of three Group 1 winners for the Baker stable in the 2024-25 season, alongside Doncaster Mile heroine Stefi Magnetica and Winterbottom Stakes winner Overpass.
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