By Ray Hickson
Trainer Bjorn Baker is testing out the Big Dance credentials of lightly raced four-year-olds Hollywood Hero and Iknowastar with their respective assignments at Warwick Farm today.
Country Cups and Dubbo and Bathurst in September are in Baker’s mind with the duo, but he says they will need to be competitive in midweek company to warrant trips to the Central West.
Hollywood Hero is back in grade in the Ranvet Handicap (1600m) following a midfield finish behind Principessa after leading at Randwick on August 19.
Bjorn Baker with jockey Jason Collett, who will ride Hollywood HeroCredit: Getty
“I’d love him to go well, we could have a look at a race like the Dubbo Cup or the Bathurst Cup,″ Baker said.
“He’s always shown a lot and he’s always been a very nice horse.
“I have got a good opinion of him, I think he’s better than what you’ve seen so far, but he’s got to start to deliver soon enough.”
Jason Collett reunites with Hollywood Hero after combining to run a close second behind Ivan’s Hero at Rosehill a few weeks ago and Baker said if he runs up to that effort he should be hard to beat.
“He’s got a bit of weight to contend with, but Jason gets on well with him,” he said.
Iknowastar won four races on end in the country last preparation before Baker threw him into the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and he was more than satisfied with the gelding’s first-up effort.
He kicked off at 1250m and held his own running fourth behind Whinchat at Canterbury and Baker said his only reservation was whether he’s looking for more ground than he gets in the ACY Securities Handicap (1300m).
“He tends to take a few runs to get to his best form but his first-up run was good. I think he is in for a good prep,” Baker said.
“Maybe we could look at one of the Big Dance races for him, I think he’s a better horse once he gets up over a mile and can free flow.”
Baker won the Big Dance eligible Murwillumbah Cup last Friday with Wategos to put him in the mix for the $3 million feature at Randwick on November 7.
