A quick back-up and drop in distance paves the way for Stardeel to shine with an all-the-way win at Rosehill
Last week the Dundeel gelding was his own worst enemy at Randwick, never relaxing and failing to run on when unplaced for the first time of the campaign.
Seven days later and it was a different version of Stardeel, sent straight to the front, and never giving his rivals a look in when leading throughout in the Congratulations Braith Nock 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).
'He was a real handful last week, he pulled my shoulders out from the moment I got on him but today he was a different horse,' jockey Josh Parr said.
'Genius decision by Bjorn to back him up, bring him back slightly in distance and it has paid dividends.
'We allowed him to do his thing today, he did it at both ends and that won't be his last win.'
Stardeel ($3.40 eq fav) defeated Grand Prairie ($3.40 eq fav) by three lengths with a half-length back to Totoka ($9.50) in third.
The win was Stardeel's second in five starts this preparation and Baker said the four-year-old is now off to the paddock with the hope the time off can fast track his mental development.
'He's still a bit of a galah but in time, he's going to develop into a pretty handy horse I think,' Baker said.
It's a BIG win for Stardeel as the @BBakerRacing trained galloper runs away with it with @JoshuaParr8 in the saddle! ðŸ'¥ pic.twitter.com/uihLIJqkoB
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025
• Sunshine Law delivers maiden city win for Denim Wynen
'He's still not doing everything correctly in his races but it's a good sign with a young horse when they don't execute as well as you'd like but they win and, in his case, today, he's won very well.
'As much as back-up Baker would like to take advantage of another wet track next week, he's done his job this prep.
'He's a big lean horse that will love getting into some spring grass. It will do his really well physically and hopefully mentally.'
Baker is coming off his best ever training season, finishing second in the Sydney trainers' premiership with 90 city winners.
'It's always important to kick off the season with a winner and while it's not all about strike rate, we are currently at 100 per cent,' he said.
â– â– â– â– â–
Dubbo trainer Dar Lunn and his stable star Elson Boy were two that relished the terrible winter conditions at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
A heavy (10) rated track combined with torrential rain provided the ideal backdrop as Elson Boy fought off all challengers to record his 10th win from 31 starts in the Jockeys Celebration Day Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).
Elson Boy had only beaten home five of his 33 rivals in the first three runs of his preparation, but a week of Sydney rain proved pivotal to the six-year-old gelding's form turnaround.
'He loves those conditions,' Lunn said. 'He's had five starts now on heavy tracks and won three times.
'The wetter the better for him.'
Elson Boy leads the way to find himself back in the winners list after 412 days! ðŸ'� pic.twitter.com/bUGZnL68fN
â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 2, 2025
•
Elson Boy ($12) was headed in the early part of the straight before digging in for the fight and fending off Captain Furai ($3.80 fav) to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths with two-and-a-quarter lengths back to Rolling Magic ($8) in third.
'He's a tough old bugger,' winning apprentice rider William Stanley said.
'He jumped well and had to do a bit of work to get across but when we got there he travelled nice.
'I thought he was the first horse beat but he found another gear, picked himself up and was good to the line.
'It was a good win because he didn't get everything go his way.
Last year Elson Boy finished ninth in The Kosciuszko and Lunn would be keen to gain another shot, especially if the heavens opened in the lead-up to The Everest Day at Royal Randwick in October.
'I wouldn't say no if we get another chance,' Lunn said. 'If we did get in and it was wet, you never know.
'He gets better the deeper he goes into a preparation so he should hold his form now.
'Hopefully this weather can hang around now for a while too.'
Elson Boy is a $51 chance with TAB.com.au for The Kosciuszko.
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