By John Schell
Bjorn Baker has been riding the crest of a wave in Sydney’s feature races of late, but his attention will turn to Nowra on Sunday when he sends three strong chances to the Shoalhaven track.
In recent weeks the Warwick Farm based trained has won the $2million Sydney Stakes with Overpass, the $2m The Invitation with Belclare and the $1m Five Diamonds Prelude with Iknowastar.
While the stakes on offer may be less at Nowra, Baker is confident the winning run can continue when the talented Midnight Dynamite steps out in the Greendales Cafe Pyree Class 1 Handicap (1100m) with Jean Van Overmeire to ride.
“He’s only lightly raced but he shows plenty of potential and it looks to be a suitable race for him on Sunday at Nowra,” Baker said.
“He debuted in a fair race at Muswellbrook when he led them in the Star Kingdom and managed to run fifth when not beaten far. And he backed that up with another good effort when he led again and fought on too well to win at Goulburn.
“I’ve given him the two trials to get ready for Sunday and he won the latest of then easily at Warwick Farm. I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run really well at Nowra.”
The Baker prepared filly Miss Kim Kar will go around in the Pelican Rocks Cafe Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m) with Olivia Chambers in the saddle.
“Miss Kim Kar is another promising horse,” Baker said. “She had a number of trials before I sent her to Orange for her first start and she ran well when finishing second.
“She then went to Nowra two weeks ago and camped on the speed before dashing away in the straight to score by a good margin. Olivia Chambers was on her that day and she sticks on Sunday.”
Baker’s third Nowra runner will be O’Explosive in the Antax Steel Constructions Maiden (1400m) with Chambers taking the mount.
“He’s shown us a bit with four placings from the eight starts and he wasn’t beaten too far at Nowra two weeks ago and faces similar opposition,” Baker said.
Supplied by Racing NSW
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