By Craig Kerry
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker was looking to twin chances in the ninth race at Randwick as he chases success in three states on Saturday.
Baker is in Perth overseeing the preparations of $2.05 (Sportsbet) favourite Overpass, which is hunting a third consecutive win in the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot, where the six-year-old has also claimed the past two group 1 Winterbottom Stakes.
Darby Racing’s Scott Darby and trainer Bjorn Baker celebrate a win.Credit: Getty Images
Baker also has Imperial Force, another Darby Racing galloper, as the $3.20 favourite for the group 2 $250,000 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville.
Baker is sixth in the Australian premiership with 128 winners at a strike rate of 21.8 per cent – a figure better than trainers higher on the list – and is coming off breakthrough victories in the Doncaster Mile and Sydney Cup during the autumn carnival.
He was confident frontrunner Overpass, which has to overcome barrier 10, was primed for the Quokka after a close second to Briasa when first up in the $3 million TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick three weeks ago.
“I think he’s in tip-top order,” Baker said. “The firm track suits at Ascot. We’ve had the same routine, so we are pretty happy with him.”
Snitzel colt Imperial Force has gate one for his interstate assignment, which comes after finishing second in the group 2 Arrowfield Sprint at Randwick two weeks ago.
“He’s coming off a good Arrowfield run, so I’m really happy with him,” Baker said. “I think he can run a good race, and he’ll be aided by a good gate. He’s in good order.”
Baker’s in-form stable has six runners at Randwick, including Istolea Merc and Yankee One in the ninth, a benchmark 72 handicap (1400m).
Four-year-old Istolea Merc, a comfortable all-the-way winner at Hawkesbury last start after a freshen up, was a $9.50 hope with comeback jockey Brodie Loy to ride in his first city appearance of the season. Mare Yankee One was a $10 chance from gate one with Jason Collett aboard. She has won twice in three midweek city starts this preparation.
“He’s going well, he’s fit and he was very good last time at Hawkesbury, so happy with him,” Baker said of Istolea Merc.
“I think he can run a race and Yankee One deserves a mention as well. She’s up and going and rock-hard fit. That’s probably our best race.
“Passeggiata [race four] is some hope, and Hayek in the first race is not completely out of it either.”
On Friday, apprentice Anna Roper had a winning treble on the Kensington track, going past 20 city victories to lose her three-kilogram claim. Roper won with Campaldino and Collect Your Cash for the Waterhouse-Bott yard and on the Greg McFarlane-trained The Great Houdini.
