Trainer Bjorn Baker has nine runners accepted for the Rosehill meeting but will wait to see what the weather does over the next 48 hours before deciding which of them will run.
Baker has experienced a fruitful carnival to date, highlighted by Positive Peace’s last-start victory in the Group Three Nivison.
The five-year-old Stratum mare will look to add more black-type to her pedigree when she lines up in the Group Two Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
“It was a good effort last time out and prior to that she was very good in the Golden Pendant without a heap of luck,” Baker said.
“No doubt it’s a tough race but there’s no form like winning form.”
Baker also saddles up Irithea in the $500,000 feature, a mare that has been a prolific money-spinner for connections.
The seven-year-old has earned over $900,000 in prize money for Baker and Darby Racing Syndications and despite finishing ninth of the 10 runners in the Group Three Sydney Stakes first up, Baker is confident she can take the next step.
“I thought her first-up run was probably better than the result suggests,” Baker said.
“As much as anything she probably just needed the run, but we’ve done plenty of work in the interim and she’s not out of it.”
Baker has four runners engaged in the Iron Jack Handicap over 1300m but Irukandji and Bold And Wild may be saved for another day if the predicted wet weather arrives.
Of his other two acceptors, Frosty Rocks is favoured against stablemate Shock Alert.
“He’s very good first up and we’ve got Tom Sherry claiming a couple,” Baker said.
“He can get through the ground on all tracks really, he’s a promising horse and we’ve got to kick him off somewhere.”
Baker’s two-year-old Sebring filly Hide Your Heart commences her racing career in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) and the trainer is confident she will get through the going.
“She’s actually trialled well on wet tracks so that gives you a bit of an inkling,” Baker said.
“No doubt she’s up against it, but she’s a nice filly and I think she’s got a future regardless.”
It will be a busy weekend for Baker with She’s Ideel also contesting the Group Two Matriarch Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
