Bjorn Baker breaks down ‘hit and miss’ season for the stable

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Trainer Bjorn Baker has described his stable’s results this season as “very hit and miss” but statistics shows this has been his best yet.

Baker’s five winners at Randwick last Saturday is a personal-best, he’s back in the top five rankings in the Sydney trainer premiership, has had big-race success with Arapaho in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes and Overpass in the inaugural The Quokka, and his stable earnings for the season have exceeded $10m for the first time.

“It’s been a funny year,” Baker said. “I’ve won a couple of big races but it has been very hit and miss.

“I’ve struggled to get (winning) doubles in the city because Sydney racing is so competitive and it is getting more competitive.

“At Warwick Farm, we have Ciaron Maher there now, we have Annabel Neasham, James Cummings, Matthew Smith, Gary Portelli, David Pfieffer, Joe Pride, the list goes on and on.

“It’s a wake-up call every day and you have to roll up and try to match them.”

Baker did more than just “match” his rivals, he out-did them training five winners at Royal Randwick last Saturday with talented trio Ozzmosis, Iowna Merc and Passeggiata, and good mares Ita and Lady Of Luxury.

The trainer revealed he has never had four city winners on the one program, let alone five. “I think I’ve had five winners at Orange once,” he said.

Ozzmosis maintained his unbeaten record to win the juvenile opener but Baker revealed he is likely to send the colt for a spell.

“I think the Golden Rose will come around too soon for Ozzmosis, we will look at the back end of the spring carnival with him,” Baker said.

Iowna Merc improved his record to four wins from seven starts and flying filly Passeggiata made it three wins from four starts with both likely to race on through the winter.

Meanwhile, Overpass, who followed his win in the $4m The Quokka with a half-length second to super sprinter Giga Kick in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000, returns to pre-training on Monday with Baker planning to set his sprinter for The Everest.

Baker said Arapaho is already back in work ahead of a spring campaign aimed at the $5m Caulfield Cup.

Sydney Racing

Trainer Bjorn Baker. Picture: Jeremy Ng – Getty Images

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Danny Beasley has made an application with Racing NSW for a dual jockey-trainer licence.

Beasley, who rode his first winners at Randwick since 2015 on Cliff House and Pascero, confirmed he completed all the necessary paper for the dual licence last week.

“Riding is still my main focus but I am keen to try training,” Beasley said. “I’d like to have a couple in work in the new season and see how it goes.”

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Michael Travers and Peter Graham are the only dual Racing NSW participants with a jockey-trainer licence.

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The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable continued their late season surge towards Group 1 training honours when King Colorado raced away with the J.J Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm.

King Colorado is the 11th Group 1 winner Maher and Eustace have trained this season, equalling Godolphin trainer James Cummings’ big-race haul and only one behind Chris Waller.

The final Group 1 of the season, the Tatt’s Tiara (1400m), is run at Eagle Farm on June 24 with all three stables likely to have representation.

Maher and Eustace are also chasing international Group 1 glory with Coolangatta in the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot on June 20.

King Colorado’s Group 1 win capped a memorable day for the Maher-Eustace stable which netted eight wins at three venues including a career-best five wins at Sandown.

Maher and Eustace took their tally of wins on all tracks this season to 301 and they are set to annex both the Australian trainer and Melbourne trainer premierships.

Their 11 Group 1 wins is also a career-best as their stable earnings of $33.8m so far this season.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Democracy Manifest, a popular horse with Sydney punters, was again heavily backed before his impressive fast-finishing win at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Chris Waller-trained galloper held 30 per cent of TAB Fixed Odds’ total hold on the race and was firm at $5 after a string of big bets including $5,000 at $5, $3,000 at $5 and $3,000 at $4.80.

Spacewalk endured a wide run but still proved too good for his rivals in the Listed Bob Charley Stakes. The Godolphin sprinter was the second best backed runner in the race with 25 per cent (Conscript was responsible for 27 per cent) with notable bets on the winner including $10,000 at $4, multiple bets of $5,000 at $4 and $4,500 at $4.

FIVE TO FOLLOW

Royal Tribute (race 1) had the misfortune to run into a very talented colt in Ozzmosis in the Randwick two-year-old race. Royal Tribute was on debut and led for a long way before finishing a very good second. He won’t be a maiden for long.

Kibou (race 4) was resuming after a long spell and conceded eventual winner Iowna Merc 4kg before going under narrowly. Kibou will improve considerably with this run and can be followed with confidence over winter.

Passeggiata (race 6) led the field by six lengths before the home turn in a 1000m sprint which is no mean feat. She did tire late but was always going to win the race. Brilliant filly who is still learning how to use her best asset, her sheer speed.

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Bazooka (race 7) was held up for a run at a vital stage in the straight before switching to the centre of the course and charging home to finish a close fourth to Democracy Manifest. Bazooka’s two runs back have been very good and he is ready to win.

Super Pursuit and King Of Hastings (race 9) were held up for runs in the straight before running home strongly for second and third respectively behind Lady Of Luxury. Pizarro, who ran fifth, was another luckless runner in the same race.

TURF TALK

“This is pretty special to win five races on a Saturday, it’s a massive thrill,” said trainer Bjorn Baker.

“This is my first four (wins) ever. I’ve never had four before on any track,” said star apprentice Dylan Gibbons.

“I have never been that confident on a horse so far from home. He is like driving a Rolls Royce. I was just sitting there and knew it was just a matter of pressing the button to win the race,” Gibbons again after winning on Ozzmosis.

“I think I was more nervous about this bloke today than I have been about a racehorse for a long time. He’s definitely got a big future,” said Baker, trainer of Ozzmosis.

“Passeggiata is quick, I think she is too quick for her own good to be honest. We are going to have to work on harnessing that speed, she just has so much speed. She is really promising and got the job done,” Baker again.

“It’s good to wear the royal blue (racing colours of Godolphin) at any time, especially in a stakes race,” said jockey Jean Van Overmeire after winning on Spacewalk.

CRUNCH TIME

Democracy Manifest (race 7) sprinted his final 600m in an impressive 33.9s at the end of 1600m to score a strong win. His closing 200m sectional of 11.49s was the best of the meeting.

Iowna Merc (race 4) had to sprint his final 600m in 34.17s including a closing 200m sectional of 11.56s to get the better of game topweight Kibou.

Passeggiata (race 6) ran successive sub-11s 200m splits between the 800m and 400m to open up a six lengths lead. She got tired late but always had the race in her keeping.

Lady Brook (race 6) was the only runner all day to break 33s for the final 600m, coming home in 32.93s to finish third to Passeggiata. In the same race, Miss Ostend sprinted her closing sectional in a fast 33.04s.

STEWARDS SAY

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Union Army (race 4) was found to have bled from both nostrils for the first time and automatically incurs a three-month racing band.

Kouklara (race 5) was placed under pressure at the entrance to the straight but gave ground so quickly. Jockey Andrew Adkins told stewards he felt as though the mare may have been experiencing an internal issue and did put her under pressure over the final 250m. A post-race veterinary examination revealed the mare to be displaying cardiac arrhythmia for the first time.

Bazooka (race 7) had some difficulty obtaining clear running in the early part of the straight, then had to be shifted to the outside of the heels of Super Strike at the 150m when disappointed for a run between Super Strike and Purple Sector.

Dragonstone (race 8) began awkwardly and made contact with the inside barrier partition. He became held up approaching the 300m and had to be directed out across the heels of runners to obtain clear running at the 200m.

King Of Hastings (race 9) was bumped and taken in by Manhood on jumping then at the 800m was hampered as a consequence of Spaceboy shifting out after being steadied from the heels of Manhood. King Of Hastings was then held up for clear running from the 300m until near the 150m.

RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY

RUN OF THE DAY

Spacewalk atoned for his unlucky defeat in Brisbane at his previous start with a rock solid win after travelling wide no cover throughout. James Cummings has him racing in good heart.

FORGET THEY RAN

Lady Of Luxury capped off a huge day for Bjorn Baker but the placegetters Super Pursuit and King Of Hastings should have got a lot closer after being held up at various stages in the race.

THE BLACK BOOK

Not a lot jumps off the page but Growl was beaten by a couple of sharp types at his second run for the new stable. He can be placed to get a win or two on the board by Team Snowden at this time of year.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Although getting an untimely suspension on the day Dylan Gibbons has given himself some hope of winning the apprentices title with a great display of riding 4 winners while it was great to see the experience of Danny Beasley back in the big smoke with a winning double.

NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD

#What’s on in NSW racing this week:

Monday: Warwick Farm, Ballina

Tuesday: Scone, Wagga Wagga

Wednesday: Kensington

Thursday: Wyong

Friday: Coffs Harbour, Goulburn

Saturday: Rosehill Gardens, Kembla Grange

Sunday: Coonamble, Port Macquarie

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