Midnight Dynamite's explosive win at Randwick
Following a successful week abroad, trainer Bjorn Baker has celebrated a significant domestic victory.
His promising gelding, Midnight Dynamite, emerged victorious in Saturday's Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
This triumph comes hot on the heels of Overpass's solid third-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes at the prestigious Royal Ascot meet earlier in the week. Overpass is set to race again in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Baker, who attended Overpass's UK debut, had entrusted the horse to his racing manager Luke Hilton. Baker returned to Sydney on Thursday night, just in time to oversee his local operations.
"It was a great trip, and he ran so well, Overpass," Baker said. "We've got a pretty special horse here too in Midnight Dynamite. He is putting together a marvellous record for Darby Racing, and he was dominant today."
Midnight Dynamite is steadily building an impressive career record, with eight wins from twenty starts and three victories from his last four runs this campaign.
Baker acknowledged that the horse's continuous improvement has taken the stable by surprise, and he believes the four-year-old has further upside.
"He's been a horse who has surprised us, just how well he is going, and how he keeps improving," he said. "When he gets in better grade, if he ever hits a really wet track, he's going to be very tough to beat."
Attention now turns to the Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on July 4, which appears to be the logical next step for Midnight Dynamite. Winning jockey Jason Collett shares Baker's positive outlook on the gelding's trajectory.
"He is only getting better," Collett commented. "This preparation he has gone to another level so that says time is a good thing for him. He ticks a lot of boxes, and he's going through the handicaps nicely."
Midnight Dynamite ($2.60 favourite) crossed the finish line by 1-3/4 lengths ahead of Whinchat ($19), who had led the field and fought bravely, with Cool Jakey ($5) a further short neck behind.
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