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.
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