Trainer Bjorn Baker out to continue Magic run
It has been a heady year for trainer Bjorn Baker and he is keen to continue that momentum through the summer as he sets his sights on next month’s Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast.
Baker has been in tremendous form, winning the inaugural The Quokka with Overpass, the stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes with exciting colt Ozzmosis and earlier this month venturing back to Western Australia to plunder the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes with Overpass.
“It has been great, a really good year. I’m very happy with how things have gone and hopefully it can continue into next year,” Baker said.
While Saturday’s Randwick meeting doesn’t boast any feature races, it will be an important stepping stone for a number of gallopers looking to stake their Magic Millions claims.
Among them will be Baker’s pair of Infatuation and Lady Of Luxury, who resume in the TAB Handicap (1100m) and Petaluma Handicap (1200m) respectively.
Infatuation had some strong juvenile formlines, finishing runner-up in the 2022 Golden Gift and fourth behind Skirt The Law in this year’s Magic Millions Classic (1200m).
While she has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 on Saturday, Baker is hoping she can show enough to secure her passage back to the Gold Coast.
“We’re hopeful of getting her up for the Magic Millions three-year-old (Guineas) next month, that’s the main aim,” Baker said.
“She’s going in without a trial but her work at home has been good.
“Hopefully she can jump and put herself in the first four.”
Baker has his sights on the Magic Millions fillies and mares’ race for Lady Of Luxury, who has a strong first-up record but will have to lump topweight of 59kg on Saturday.
The trainer has an uncanny knack of taking out the last race, although he will be satisfied if Lady Of Luxury is simply doing her best work at the finish.
“She has got a big weight and it’s a kick off point for her,” he said.
“She will probably get back and if she hits the line, we’ll be comfortable going forward.”
Import Dreamflight rounds out Baker’s Sydney team in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2000m) but the horse has struggled to recapture his French form since coming to Australia and needs to lift.
More Racing News
Extragalactic's Flemington mission in McEwen Stakes
While many in the racing world will lament the closure of the old Moonee Valley track, trainer Trent Edmonds isn't lamenting the timing of its renovation.This Saturday marks the first Cox Plate meeting to be held away from 'The Valley', and Edmonds is set to be at Flemington with Extragalactic,...
Blind Raise's faith rewarded with Cox Plate start
Trent Busuttin is aware that if the primary goal was to secure a Group 1 victory, the more prudent strategy would be to send Blind Raise to Sydney for this Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes.Nevertheless, he also recognises that the type of opportunity that has arisen this year is not a...
Caulfield Cup fall victim Half Yours is back home and doing well
Good news has emerged regarding the riders involved in the Caulfield Cup, with the Victorian Jockeys Association reporting both have been discharged from hospital.Mark Zahra and Jye McNeil were transported to the Alfred Hospital after a dramatic fall during the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.The sequence of events saw Half Yours,...
Mr Brightside's Flemington Mile participation uncertain
The Lindsay Park training outfit, comprising Ben, Will, and J D Hayes, will hold off on confirming Mr Brightside's start at Flemington until the acceptance stage.Mr Brightside is expected to be nominated for the Group 2 Kia Ora Stud Mile (1600m) this Saturday, though Ben Hayes indicated he is only...
Warwoven's Cox Plate Prospects to be Decided by King's Ride
Melbourne's racing scene is abuzz as Sydney jockey Rachel King prepares to reunite with Warwoven for a crucial track gallop. This workout is designed to give the final go-ahead for the Bjorn Baker-trained colt's potential entry into the esteemed Cox Plate at Flemington.King, who celebrated a Caulfield Guineas victory aboard...
Infancy's The Invitation prospects while in foal
Dual stakes winner Infancy is eagerly awaiting a potential start in the $2 million The Invitation at Randwick, a race that could significantly boost her career accolades before she transitions to her role as a broodmare.The six-year-old mare has recently been served by the promising young sire Anamoe. Her trainer,...
Tempted claims The Everest crown in thrilling renewal
The tenth running of The Everest delivered a familiar outcome at the top but with a new champion crowned, as Tempted outdueled Ka Ying Rising before a record-breaking crowd of 52,110.For trainer Ciaron Maher, this victory represents his second success in The Everest, building on Bella Nipotina's triumph in 2024....
Autumn Glow's flawless Sydney spring culminates in King Charles triumph
Autumn Glow smoothly assumed the lead in the prestigious Group 1 $5 million King Charles III Stakes (1600m) as the field turned for home, just as Ceolwulf began to mount a challenge.Trainer Chris Waller reportedly turned to jockey Darren Beadman and inquired, "Are we in trouble?" Beadman's swift reply was,...
Gavin Bedggood celebrates biggest win as Kingswood triumphs in Caulfield Cup
Trainer Gavin Bedggood has achieved his career-defining success with Kingswood winning the Caulfield Cup.The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday was claimed by the UK-bred import Kingswood, marking Bedggood's most significant achievement, eclipsing his previous best in the 2024 Moir Stakes at Moonee Valley.Bedggood, who was a proficient jumps...
Apocalyptic finds her best form in the Silver Eagle
While it was a supporting event on The Everest undercard, Apocalyptic's triumphant return to the winner's circle on Saturday was a considerable achievement for trainer Michael Freedman and jockey Tommy Berry.The mare, a Group 1 victor of last year's Flight Stakes, had been underperforming in the autumn and her initial...