Twelve months after Stefi Magnetica underlined her promise with an eye-catching fourth in the Light Fingers Stakes, Bjorn Baker is hoping to unearth another new talent in the same race.
Dance To The Boom will make her first foray into Group company in Saturday’s renewal of the fillies’ feature at Randwick, bidding to extend a three-race unbeaten streak.
Following wins at Kembla Grange in August and Canterbury in December, the three-year-old captured the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m) over the summer to earn herself a shot at the early Sydney carnival races.
Baker is keen to see how she measures up in the Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) with a view to raising the bar even higher.
Stefi Magnetica finished fourth in the Light Fingers last year before just missing behind Tropical Squall in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m), a race Baker has his sights on for Dance To The Boom.
“We’d love to get her up to 1400 metres for the Surround. If she can run a decent race on Saturday, we will go to the Surround with a touch of confidence,” Baker said.
“Stefi Magnetica ran a close second in the Surround last year so I’d love to take Dance To The Boom there.
“I think she’s a very good filly and perhaps still a little bit under-rated.
“She has got to overcome an awkward gate in 15 of 15, so we’ll leave it up to Kerrin McEvoy. He rode her in her trial and got a bit of a feel for her. He was impressed with her that day.”
Baker will be dually represented in the Triscay Stakes (1200m) for the mares by the fleet-footed Bonita Queen and consistent Spring Lee.
A natural leader, Bonita Queen will enjoy significant weight relief from the 61.5kg she lumped when third behind Cosmanova last start, while Baker says Spring Lee will strip fitter for two runs back.
“I think Bonita Queen will be in front for a long way. She is rock-hard fit, she’s third-up, she drops eight-and-a-half kilos and is in with no weight, so we will definitely be positive with her,” he said.
“There’s not too much between Bonita Queen and Spring Lee and a Group Three race would be very important on both their resumes.”
