Baker Loving fresh partnership with Godolphin

After achieving an early highlight for Godolphin’s repositioned public training operation, Bjorn Baker is looking to maintain the upward trend into summer.

The Warwick Farm trainer provided Godolphin with its first Group success under the structure when Pericles claimed the Tramway Stakes (1400m) in September.

Pericles continued his strong campaign with an Epsom Handicap placing over 1600m before a narrow second to Ceolwulf in the Group 1 Champions Stakes (1600m).

Attention now turns to the debut of three-year-old Loving, who lines up in Sunday’s Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m). While he may not yet possess Pericles’ profile, he has shown ability in lighter company.

Loving posted consecutive wins on heavy going at Geelong and Newcastle during winter and now steps up after two trials without blinkers — gear that returns for raceday.

“He will have blinkers on this weekend, which he hasn’t had in his trials, and he has had them on in all his starts. Hopefully that might give us a little bit more with him,” Luke Hilton said.

“His trials have been good. He’s a little bit hard to assess because he is coming out of two-year-old races and now into Sydney Saturday grade.

“He’s got to take that step up from provincial racing, but he’s been good at home, and it seems the right race for him.”

Loving will join Viktor, contesting the Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Handicap (1500m), and Dame Commander, resuming in the Chandon Handicap (1300m).

Dame Commander collected a Group placing in last year's Spring Stakes (1600m) before a Queensland Oaks campaign fell flat.

“We always thought she’d get to a staying trip and might have been an Oaks filly, but she just didn’t get all the way through,” Hilton said.

“We may keep her a bit shorter and sharper this time in and the mile may max her out.

“She generally needs a run or two. We have thrown her in the deep end most of the time, so we’d like to bring her back in grade a bit and let her win some races hopefully.”

Punters can compare odds on all three Baker runners via Australia’s trusted betting sites.