By Ray Hickson
His older brother has developed into a group-level winner this season, so the bar is high for Istolea Merc as he takes the step into city grade at Warwick Farm today.
The four-year-old is a year younger than Iowna Merc, who claimed the group 3 Liverpool City Cup last weekend, and comes off two Nowra wins into the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m).
Bjorn Baker is out to continue his good form at Warwick Farm.Credit: Getty
Trainer Bjorn Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said there are similarities between the brothers but if anything Istolea Merc is blessed with a better constitution.
“They’ve both taken a bit of time,” Hilton said.
“He hasn’t been the most straightforward, but he’s improving and improved out of sight this preparation. Mentally and physically he’s so much better every time.
“He’s a lot stronger than Iowna Merc, he’s probably physically a better type. He’s taking each step in his stride and deserves a chance on Wednesday.”
Iowna Merc started his career in November of his three-year-old season while Istolea Merc’s debut was back in September this season so he’s got some catching up to do.
Hilton said his last start win at Nowra on February 23 had plenty of merit given he was coming back from 1200m to 1100m. He was good enough to run down the well-supported favourite Rose Aye.
“He did a good job with an unsuitable set-up, but it was a nice race for him,” Hilton said.
“We think he’s been looking for the extra trip so the 1300m shouldn’t pose any problems to him.”
Majorca Sunset is still looking for that maiden win in the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) after a last start fourth at Warwick Farm that the Baker stable is happy to forgive.
The three-year-old was a solid favourite when beaten 2-3/4 lengths by Conichero over 1400m two weeks ago.
“He was a touch disappointing the other day, but he had a fair bit against him, he copped a bad bump mid-race and lost a shoe,” Hilton said.
“So we forgive him for that, if he gets back to what we thought of him prior to that he should be hard to beat.”
Golden Eagle start may arrive for Kiwi winner
Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys has flagged his interest in offering the winner of the new NZB Kiwi slot race automatic entry into the $10 million Golden Eagle. In an interview with NZB Kiwi’s Andrew Gourdie, V’landys said former NZ Thoroughbred Racing chairman Cameron George was looking into a link between the races. The inaugural $NZ3.5 million Kiwi, the richest race for three-year-olds in the Southern Hemisphere, will be held on Saturday at Ellerslie. Australian-trained trio Evaporate, Public Attention and Perfumist top the market. The Kiwi and the Golden Eagle, a race for four-year-olds held in late October at Rosehill, are both over 1500m. “We’re very interested in having that partnership, and we’ll have discussions with the New Zealand Thoroughbred board in making it an automatic entry to the Golden Eagle for the winner,” V’landys said.
Craig Kerry
Gibbons to return from shoulder reconstruction
Jockey Dylan Gibbons returns from four months out with a shoulder injury for his first trials on Wednesday at Newcastle. The two-time group 1 winner, who will relocate from Newcastle to Sydney on Monday, had a left shoulder reconstruction in November. He first injured the joint in a pre-race fall at Port Macquarie on October 11 and was cleared to return six days later. Problems persisted until he succumbed to the injury on November 5, after which scans revealed a fracture and ligament tears. The 23-year-old gained a clearance to ride again on February 19 and has since been back at track work. “It feels really good,” Gibbons said. “I’m as fit and as light as I’ve been, so everything is there. All going well tomorrow, I’ll be ringing my manager straight after and looking at a return date.”
Craig Kerry
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
