Winter launchpad for Infatuation

Bjorn Baker is looking to Infatuation to cap a breakout season for his two-year-old squad when the emerging filly kicks off her latest campaign at Randwick.

Baker has enjoyed a career-best term with his juveniles, his 14 winners almost doubling his previous high.

He felt acquiring higher quality stock had helped him make inroads, as had lessons learned in previous seasons.

“We don’t like to give away too much, but it probably helps having nice horses,” Baker said.

“I’m very lucky I’ve got (bloodstock agent) Jim Clarke buying them for me, and the support of Darby (Racing) who generally buy a few horses who get up and going, Ozzmosis being one of the more exciting horses.

“There is definitely nowhere to hide in terms of the Sydney two-year-old races. If you go to a two-year-old race and you’re not quite there, you get found out, so as much as anything, it’s about having them spot-on rather than going there guessing.”

Baker has given Infatuation two trials to prepare for her return in Saturday’s ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m), the final Sydney juvenile race of the season.

The daughter of I Am Invincible has shown talent in her initial preparations, just beaten by Barber in the Golden Gift and breaking her maiden with a Randwick win over The Little Pumper in December.

Spelled after finishing fourth to Skirt The Law in the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January, Baker is hoping Saturday’s race can be a springboard to bigger assignments.

“It’s going to be interesting in terms of this week, I’ve got her up a touch earlier to try to get a run under her belt before we possibly go to the spring stakes races,” he said.

“I’m mindful her form is probably better second-up so we will try to replicate that into the spring.

“She’s in good order and she is a good filly with a good pedigree.

“Rachel (King) rides her and I think she’s only going to keep getting better.”

Stablemate Desperately lines up in the same race, earning herself a chance in city grade after winning at Taree first-up and finishing a close second at Scone last start.

“She’s another Darby horse and she ran really well at Scone,” Baker said.

“We’re throwing her in the deep end but she’s professional enough and has natural speed.”