Red-hot Baker ready to strike with twin chances in Rosehill feature
So when the Warwick Farm trainer targets a feature with a horse attempting a seven-day back-up for the first time and another racing second up off a last-place finish, it would be dangerous to write him off.
Baker, coming to the end of a breakout season, has last-start winner Thunderlips and Robusto tackling the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Five-year-old Robusto, which won the $2 million The Ingham at Randwick in December and was second in three other features in his first campaign with Baker, resumed in the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 14, where he faded to finish last after working forward early from a wide gate.
With gate one on Saturday and 60 kilograms, Robusto is $8 with Sportsbet to hit back at Rosehill.
Baker is confident of an improved showing back in grade.
'It was a tough ask, and he drew badly, which was always going to make it tricky,' Baker said of the Eagle Farm run.
'That work he had to do first up, he was always going to be vulnerable. It was a risky play, but you've got to be in it to win it.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Courier-Mail
8 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
'Bit of a feel about her': New level Within reach for Baker filly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is quietly confident exciting filly Within The Law can go to another level in the spring as he sets his sights on the upcoming Princess Series. Within The Law is one of several spring contenders set to step out at Tuesday's barrier trials at Rosehill Gardens with the filly set to line up in a 900m heat. PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The daughter of Lucky Vega is on the third line of betting at $8 for the Group 1 Flight Stakes with Baker keen to follow the tried and true three-year-old fillies path through the spring, which kicks off with the Group 2 $300,000 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) on August 23. 'She is going super,' Baker said. 'We will go through the fillies series and I think she has come back a little bit bigger and stronger. 'You don't get carried away but she has the temperament and everything about her suggests maybe she can be a filly that can go on to that next level. 'With two-year-olds, it's always a bit of a question mark but I have a bit of a feel about her.' It was a remarkable two-year-old season for Within The Law that could have ended in disaster. She won the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes before escaping serious injury when she went through the running rail and lost her rider in the Group 1 Golden Slipper. Within The Law was able to get back to the races to finish third in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes and then came a close second to Nepotism in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes. 'She did a great job and is more of a raceday racehorse rather than a trackworker,' Baker said. 'From that point of view I think, she may be able to step up another level.' She won't be the only two-year-old stepping out on the morning with a plethora of youngsters lining up, including Skyhook, West Of Swindon, State Visit, Blitzburg, King Of Pop, Memo and North England. Baker also has last start Group 1 Sydney Cup winner Arapaho having his first trial over 1000m in a heat that also includes stablemate Perfumist. Group 1 performer Lindermann is among the Chris Waller-trained spring hopefuls set to step out while Canadian Group 1 winner Moira is in the same 900m heat. Waller will also saddle up his first trialist in the Godolphin royal blue with Commemorative in a 900m heat. Originally published as Bjorn Baker predicting big things for exciting filly Within The Law this spring
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Travolta caps big day out for Collett and Waller on final Saturday
Travolta stormed down the outside fence to win the last at Randwick and cap a satisfying finish to Saturday racing for jockey Jason Collett and premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller. The $10 Sportsbet chance held off stablemate Pure Alpha by just over a length to win the 1800m benchmark 78 handicap for colts, gelding and entires, giving Collett four victories on the card and Waller a double. Collett went to outright second on the Sydney jockeys' premiership on 71, four ahead of Zac Lloyd (67), with one midweek meeting remaining in the season. James McDonald (83) has wrapped up a seventh consecutive title. Collett, who claimed a first Doncaster Mile on Stefi Magnetica this season, also won on Nashville Jack, Regimental Colours and Oh Diamond Lil on Saturday. 'The Donnie was great, I think I've had just under 20 stakes winners, and I'm really proud of the season I've had,' Collett said. 'I've got to sit on some great horses and it just keeps building nicely. I love what I do and I'm fortunate I have a job I enjoy.' Waller earlier won with Cigar Flick ($12), which swooped down the outside from near-last under Tommy Berry to take out the benchmark 88 handicap (1100m) by just over a length from World Alliance. 'She's a frustrating horse, but she tries her hardest,' Waller said. 'She's going well, but she's reached her level, so it's not easy to win. She needs everything to flow, she needs to come into the race at the right, the right track conditions, and today it was.'
The Age
a day ago
- The Age
Travolta caps big day out for Collett and Waller on final Saturday
Travolta stormed down the outside fence to win the last at Randwick and cap a satisfying finish to Saturday racing for jockey Jason Collett and premier Sydney trainer Chris Waller. The $10 Sportsbet chance held off stablemate Pure Alpha by just over a length to win the 1800m benchmark 78 handicap for colts, gelding and entires, giving Collett four victories on the card and Waller a double. Collett went to outright second on the Sydney jockeys' premiership on 71, four ahead of Zac Lloyd (67), with one midweek meeting remaining in the season. James McDonald (83) has wrapped up a seventh consecutive title. Collett, who claimed a first Doncaster Mile on Stefi Magnetica this season, also won on Nashville Jack, Regimental Colours and Oh Diamond Lil on Saturday. 'The Donnie was great, I think I've had just under 20 stakes winners, and I'm really proud of the season I've had,' Collett said. 'I've got to sit on some great horses and it just keeps building nicely. I love what I do and I'm fortunate I have a job I enjoy.' Waller earlier won with Cigar Flick ($12), which swooped down the outside from near-last under Tommy Berry to take out the benchmark 88 handicap (1100m) by just over a length from World Alliance. 'She's a frustrating horse, but she tries her hardest,' Waller said. 'She's going well, but she's reached her level, so it's not easy to win. She needs everything to flow, she needs to come into the race at the right, the right track conditions, and today it was.'
