As the man with the ‘RL touch,’ Bjorn Baker has Warwoven as a $1.80 odds-on with nation-wide wagering agencies for the $3m TAB Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.
And as stated, with this 2YO Classic of 1200m carrying $3 million prizemoney, it’s the richest race world-wide for horse-sale graduates that has the RL – Restricted Listed Pattern Race status.
Coming off a 3½ length victory in an Eagle Farm 1200m 2YO Quality Handicap, he’ll again be ridden by Rachael King, and on 57kg starts from Gate 5 of 16 having also won over 1000m at Randwick.
Being the first crop of the NZ Champion 2YO Sword of State, the Diamond Stakes winning son of the champion Snitzel, he’s the first foal of the Royal Stakes Makli mare Needle and Thread.
$300,000 graduate of Kia Ora Stud by Ridgmont and partners at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, his dam is half-sister to Gr1 placed stakes winner Savile Row, family of top European miler The Gurkha.
And with Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker building a stable of Magic Millions winners, he also had Paradoxium take out the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic of 1200m in December.
Shorting to $21 for the Golden Slipper, and not taking up his ‘win-you’re-in’ option for Saturday, he’s a $400,000 Gold Coast yearling by Extreme Choice, the first foal of stakes placed Paredo.
Now looking to make it back-to-back victories in the Gold Coast 2YO Classic, its last year’s winner O’ Ole who’s at $21 for the RL $3m Gold Coast Millions Gold Coast 3YO Guineas of 1400m.
Again to be ridden by Jason Collett, carrying 56kg, she starts from Barrier 10 of 17 runners and was a last start fourth to the Vo Rogue Stakes, won by the odds-on $1.80 Guineas favourite Ninja.
With O’ Ole being a $325,000 buy at the 2024 Gold Coast Yearling Sale sired by the Champion First Season sire Ole Kirk, its Ninja was a $380,000 graduate of the same sale, being sired by Farnan.
And with Bjorn Baker looking to build an amazing record of training three Gold Coast 2YO Classic winners and three Wyong 2YO Classic winners in the same season, two with the same horse.
In 2013 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale it was Bjorn Baker who purchased the Testa Rossa colt from Newhaven Park for $70,000, that as Unencumbered won the Wyong 2YO Classic.
Two starts later, and with Nathan Berry again in the saddle, it was a ¾ length victory in the $2m Magic Jeep Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic before going on to have a short career at stud.
And with the undefeated Zip Lock at $7 in having won the B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) for trainers Chris and Corey Munce, he won his first start also over 1200m in a Doomben 2yo Handicap.
To be ridden again by Marin Harley and starting from Barrier 2 and on 57kg, he was a $160,000 Gold Coast yearling by top young sire Hellbent, from the good producing Hinchinbrook mare Honolulu Lass, the family of Debellatio and Devoirs.
At $9 is the Ciaron Maher trained Tornado Valley who was second in the B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm having previously won the Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington.
Again ridden by Ethan Brown, and on 57kg, he’ll jump from Gate 5, and being sired by the champion international young sire Too Darn Hot is a $300,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate.
Being from Queensland Oaks placed stakes winning Fastnet Rock mare Oklahoma Girl, a half-sister to Gr3 winner Sure Knee, he’s from the family of top sires Northern Meteor and Smart Missile.
Rounding out the market is the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Shiki at $12, Tim Martin’s Unit Five at $15, Itchintogo at $15 and Knightsbridge paying $23.
