By John Schell
The powerful Bjorn Baker stable will target the Wellington riches on Sunday with a number of leading chances set to contest the $200,000 Wellington Boot and $100,000 Wellington Cup.
Baker has been riding the crest of a winning wave this year and will have two leading contenders in the Wellington Soldiers Memorial Club Wellington Boot Showcase (1100m) in the shape of Invincible Phantom, to be ridden by Dylan Gibbons, and Alabama Charm, which will have Winona Costin in the saddle.
Bjorn Baker will target the feature events at Wellington on Sunday.Credit: Steven Siewert
“They are two talented two-year-olds that look to be well-placed in the Wellington Boot,” said Baker. “Invincible Phantom won his two trials before he made his debut on the Kensington track at Randwick and he ran well when finishing fourth, beaten less than a length.
“If he can run up to that effort, then he should take plenty of holding out.”
Alabama Charm is a filly that has had three starts, and Baker has no doubt she has the ability to win the Wellington Boot.
“We started her in the Gimcrack Stakes on debut and she was down the track in that and went for a break straight afterwards,” Baker said.
“She had two trials leading into her return to racing and she’s come back in good form with a third at Newcastle and then a last start second at Gosford. If she can maintain that sort of form then she should be in the finish as well.”
Baker had two runners engaged to compete in the Grand Hotel & Bottle Shop Wellington Cup (1700m), with the event carrying Big Dance eligibility.
Don Pedro, which finished fourth on the Kensington track at Randwick on Wednesday is in the event with Dylan Gibbons booked for the ride, while Cinque Torri, will not go around having contested the Muswellbrook Cup on Friday.
“Don Pedro has been racing in great form with a couple of wins and then a couple of fourths, all in city grade,” said Baker. “It would have been great to see him run better the other day but his form is consistent and he looks hard to hold out here.”
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
