Bjorn Baker has gone back in time to predict a bright future for gutsy colt Addictive Nature.
The three-year-old produced further evidence of his potential as a Group One class horse when he held on to claim Saturday’s Group Three Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at Rosehill by a short head.
Addictive Nature justified his $3.10 favouritism by withstanding a withering burst from the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Assimilate ($5), who rocketed home from last at the 400m.
Baker’s father Murray won the Ming Dynasty in 2010 with Lion Tamer, who went on to achieve Group One success in the Victoria Derby.
Warwick Farm-based Baker made a comparison between the pair as he aimed Addictive Nature towards the Group Two Stan Fox Stakes (1400m) at Randwick after his successful black-type debut.
“I was here with Lion Tamer and he went on to very good things,” Baker said.
“I’d like to think this guy is the same sort of calibre. He’s got the ability.”
Rapt with Addictive Nature’s second win in three starts, Baker said there was plenty of scope for improvement for a horse now listed as a $15 chance with Sportsbet for the Group One Golden Rose (1400m) on September 23.
“He’s still doing things a little bit upside down but he’s got untapped potential,” he said.
“We’re yet to see the best of him.
“For a Savabeel (sire) he’s just about go too much speed, so there’s a little bit of a questions in terms of what we do and where we go.”
Jockey Jay Ford thought Addictive Nature had Group One potential after a “courageous” effort.
“He got attacked the whole way, we was working the whole race and for him to be able to kick and hang on are signs of a top liner,” he said.
