Thunderlips ready to rumble again in the Winter Stakes 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker is set to double down in Saturday’s Listed Winter Stakes at Rosehill, with wet weather tipping the scales in favour of backing up Thunderlips just seven days after his latest win.

Racing manager Luke Hilton confirmed that the gelding came through last weekend’s Rosehill victory in top order and will be joined by stablemate Robusto in the 1400m feature.

“He has handled backing up before but it’s more so because of the rain affected track we’re going to get,” Hilton said.

“He loves the wet tracks. He went great on a dry track last week and back on a wet track is going to be an advantage to him.”

Once considered a Group-class juvenile in Brisbane, Thunderlips didn’t fire early in his career but is now delivering on that promise, winning three of his last four runs—two at Saturday’s distance of 1400 metres.

Robusto resumes in Sydney after finishing last in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m), where he worked early from a wide draw and was never able to get into the race.

“It was a Group One assignment so it was hard to do first-up,” Hilton said.

“I would have rathered him on a better surface but he will definitely go around from a good gate on Saturday.

“Leading into the Stradbroke, we were really pleased with him . . . He was a long way into his prep when he won the Ingham (1600m). We got him during that preparation and I think he does take a fair bit of racing so he might need another run or two.”

The Winter Stakes has attracted a full field of 13, with Thunderlips currently rated a $4.80 favourite. Last-start winner Accredited sits on the second line of betting at $5, while Robusto is a $6 chance to bounce back.

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