By Craig Kerry
In a stellar season for Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker, one goal still stands out from the rest. And Baker believes it is the greatest training challenge: winning the Golden Slipper.
Baker’s stable has enjoyed a phenomenal season, scoring 67 metropolitan winners at a strike rate of 22.8 per cent to sit behind only premier trainer Chris Waller (98) in the premiership and 25 victories ahead of the next best.
Jason Collett takes Within The Law down the outside to win the Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick on March 1.Credit: Getty Images
On top of that, Baker won the $3 million Magic Millions Classic for two-year-olds with O’ Ole in January.
While that filly has been lost to the Slipper with injury, Baker is confident another, Within The Law, is up to the challenge in the $5 million Golden Slipper on Saturday at Rosehill.
“I’ve only had the two runners [in the Golden Slipper], a long time ago, and they ran ninth and 10th, so definitely the race is one as a trainer you do dream about, especially a Sydney-based trainer. It’s an iconic Sydney race,” Baker said.
“Two-year-old training is definitely a challenge. Your older horses, you tend to find out over time what works, but with two-year-olds it’s probably a lot more instinct and a lot more assessing your horse day to day.
“Sometimes you can have them there one day and they are gone the next, so it’s definitely tricky, and you need a good horse to start with, no doubt about it.
“And sometimes you never quite know. O’ Ole from day one she was electric, very fast, but Within The Law is a lot more casual in the way she does things, and she saves her best for race day.
“As a Sydney-based trainer, the Golden Slipper is the biggest two-year-old race by far, but the Magic Millions is probably second in a lot of ways, especially related to the sales, so we’re very lucky to have two very good fillies in the stable.”
Within The Law’s only loss was a close second to Rivellino in the $2 million Inglis Millennium.Credit: Getty Images
A $30,000 yearling buy for Darby Racing, Within The Law has won $1.15 million from three wins and a second in four starts. Her only loss was a close second to Rivellino in the $2 million Inglis Millennium after a tough run.
She bounced back with a flying finish to nab Bellazaine on the line in the group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes and secure her spot in the Slipper. Jockey Jason Collett has stuck with her.
A draw in 13 on Saturday will likely make her task difficult again in the Slipper, but Baker hopes she can settle closer in the run if needed.
“We know she can go forward or back, so she’s got a flexible racing pattern … she has more gate speed than people think,” he said.
“Last time she had to get back and I thought it was a phenomenal effort to win.
“She got hampered at the start and had a bit of a rocky run and a wide run throughout. It was a run of considerable merit and I think the 1200 will suit ideally at Rosehill.
“I’m very happy with her. She’s a real race day racehorse, which sounds strange, but I know she’s going to give 100 per cent and that definitely counts for something.
“With any luck, she could have been four from four. She’s a really exciting filly, and she definitely brings out her best on race day.
“It’s been a great journey so far and to be here with Darby Racing is very special in the Golden Slipper.”
Darby Racing’s Scott Darby and trainer Bjorn Baker celebrate a win.Credit: Getty Images
Darby Racing has been a key player in Baker’s remarkable run through the summer with the likes of Robusto, Our Anchorage and Iowna Merc racking up major wins.
Our Anchorage, which had four consecutive victories before finishing fourth in the Randwick City Stakes, runs in group 3 Manion Cup on Saturday.
“He’s been a revelation this preparation and even last start, he wasn’t beaten far and I think he’s looking for further, so 2400 suits,” Baker said.
Group 1-winner Stefi Magnetica is second up for Baker in the group 1 George Ryder Stakes after an eighth in a stacked Canterbury Stakes.
“She galloped really well on Tuesday morning,” he said. “She had no luck first up, and I think 1500 does suit in terms of where she’s at. She ran over 1500 in the Golden Eagles and was very unlucky there, then she ran over a mile in the Champions Mile, so she’s got a good base to work from coming into this preparation and we’re very happy with her.”
Baker also has Shezanalister and Spring Lee in the Birthday Card Stakes, Little Baia in the Epona Stakes and Majorca Sunset in the Rosehill Guineas.
He expects Shezanalister to hit back from the cardiac arrhythmia suffered last start when 11th in the Wenona Girl.
