Peter Knuckey gives Baby Paris tick of approval
Experienced jockey Peter Knuckey believes Baby Paris has the weapons to take the next step onto bigger goals after she landed a career-best win at Belmont on Saturday.
Baby Paris won the Black Heart Bart Stakes (1200m) in a thriller, chasing down the leader and race favourite, Phanta to win by a long-head, claiming her first Listed success after 11 starts.
Peter Knuckey has formed a great alliance with Baby Paris, partnering the daughter of Playing God to five of her six career victories and holds an important assessment on ambitious plans ahead.
The Colin Webster-trained Baby Paris will be aimed at the $1.5 million Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in December after bouncing back in the Black Heart Bart Stakes.
The talented four-year-old atoned and revealed her class after a luckless eighth behind Long Beach at her previous start when first up in the Jolly Beggar Stakes (1000m).
Knuckey is quietly confident Baby Paris can continue to mix it at higher levels against stronger opposition at the upcoming Ascot carnival.
“You sort of have to head that way and it would be very valuable if she could run top three in that race (Winterbottom Stakes),” Knuckey said on Tabradio.
“That’s everybody’s dream, it’s worth $1.5 million and it’s a Group 1.
“I know we are just coming off a Listed race at Belmont, but she’s a winner.
“She’s won six out of 11, she’s a winner, why not have a go at it.
“That’s the dream and if you can pull it off or run a place, it’s going to be very valuable to her.”
Knuckey said permission from stewards to take Baby Paris out early and go around with the clerk of the course helped her chances in the Black Heart Bart.
“She relaxed good and loaded well,” Knuckey said.
“It kept her heart rate down so she wasn’t getting all excited prior to going to the barriers.
“She wasn’t wasting any energy as well and we obviously needed that energy at the end of the race.”
Baby Paris won the $200,000 The Tabtouch Joey (1200m) at Ascot in April and ran second to boom mare Amelia’s Jewel in the 2022 Karrakatta Plate (1200m).
A homebred for Kalgoorlie trainer, Gary Bowen, she has collected $464,830 in prizemoney and $151,250 in bonuses since her win on debut.
More Racing News
All-Star Mile next for Sabaj following blood test setback
Sabaj, under the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, faces a puzzling field in the All-Star Mile with Pride Of Jenni taking part.Saturday's All-Star Mile (1600m) at Flemington is now the primary target for Sabaj, who skipped last week's Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington due to unsatisfactory blood...
Baraqiel to trial blinkers for Newmarket Handicap push
Baraqiel faces an uphill battle with the weights in pursuit of success in one of the nation's premier short-distance contests, the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington.Post-1973 metric weight implementation, merely three runners have prevailed in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) carrying more than 57.5kg, with the race set for Saturday.In...
Green Spaces earns Rachel King's trust for Randwick Guineas tilt
Returning from a triumphant riding spell in Japan, Rachel King has her eyes set on the Sydney autumn series, with a key engagement aboard the inexperienced three-year-old gelding Green Spaces in the Randwick Guineas.The esteem in which King views the Bjorn Baker stable's charge prompted her to jet in from...
Fortunes due to improve for backmarker Bauhinia
Bauhinia, known for settling towards the rear naturally, has often lacked the rub of the green in her races.Co-trainer Lee Curtis expects the mare to see her luck change for the better over autumn, kicking off in Saturday's Wenona Girl Quality (1200m) at Randwick."Her work has been as good as...
Gibbons lands timely Linebacker mount after Rosehill breakthrough
An ordinary benchmark contest at Rosehill back in July evolved into a career highlight for Dylan Gibbons, setting him up to steer star performer Linebacker in the Group One Canterbury Stakes.The promising jockey, mere months removed from shoulder surgery, had steered Good Banter to victory in that midwinter feature.Post-race, he...
Augustus and Desert Hero debut in Flemington feature
While the Australian Cup Prelude at Flemington doesn't carry the weight of the day's opening races, it has the potential to highlight future stars for major events ahead.Ciaron Maher will launch two newcomers from overseas in the Saturday 2000m race – Augustus and Desert Hero.Desert Hero already has Australian experience,...
Robbie Griffiths plans VRC Sires' Produce Stakes tilt with Almost An Angel
For the youngsters, the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes provides the debut opportunity to tackle a genuine journey.Now that the Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria's top juvenile prize, has been run and captured last month, attention shifts for the fast two-year-olds to the Golden Slipper up in Sydney.Robbie Griffiths, however, set his...
Ipswich Friday features prepared Sir Maurice
With an advantageous claim on weight and a competitor set for a win, Jack Bruce is eager for Sir Maurice to perform at Ipswich this coming Friday.Marking his fifth run this campaign, the five-year-old offspring of champion Japanese sire Maurice enters the Great Northern Benchmark 65 Handicap (1200m) for an...
Blinkers and McDonald for Hidrix in key Todman Stakes before Golden Slipper
Hidrix, once the top pick for the Golden Slipper, faces two major tweaks for his engagement in the Todman Stakes at Randwick: blinkers fitted and James McDonald in the saddle.Although McDonald guided stable companion Confederation during the Canonbury Stakes (1100m) Hidrix won and the Silver Slipper (1100m), he'll switch to...
Filly Caffe Florian emerges as next talent for Richard Litt
Though Richard Litt runs a modest team in numbers, he has proven adept at pinpointing quality performers.Responsible for training dual Group 1 champion Castelvecchio and Profondo's 2021 Spring Champion Stakes success, the Warwick Farm conditioner now seems to hold a fresh prospect in developing filly Caffe Florian.The three-year-old by Snitzel...