Word of caution for Bjorn Baker pair in $1m Archer slot race
It would be no surprise if Bjorn Baker won another slot race on Sunday, but punters keen to launch into his Darby Racing runners in the $1m The Archer have been issued a warning.
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Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- Daily Telegraph
Warwick Farm preview: Key factors to help Bjorn Baker's mare Starmae
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping a drop in grade and weight can help Starmae get back to winning form when she steps out on her home track. The four-year-old has been good in his three starts this preparation including her last two runs in Saturday metropolitan company when fifth to Memoria at Randwick and seventh to Oh Diamond Lil at the Scone stand-alone meeting on May 17 Starmae carried 56kg and 57kg respectively in those two races and drops down to 54.5kg after the claim of apprentice Olivia Chambers in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). 'This is a good race for her. It's a drop back in grade after running in Saturday grade in her last two where she acquitted herself well,' said Baker. 'She gets a good drop in weight with Olivia's claim and she is one from one on this mare having won at Wyong last year. 'Starmae galloped outstanding on Saturday. She was really sharp. 'She may have just taken a couple of runs to get to her peak but this is a good scenario over 1300m again, back in grade, lovely gate (barrier 4) and no weight. 'This is her race to run well.' Baker also saddles up consistent gelding Bat Out Of Hell in the same race where he has drawn barrier 11 but feels he will be better suited once he steps up over a little further. 'He probably needs 1400m and 1500m but he has to start somewhere,' he said. 'He is a horse who always tries his hardest and he has trialled better this time in better than he has in previous preparations. 'We're confident he is going to have a good preparation. Whether it's this week or whether he just gets run under his belt and he'll be ready to go.' Baker was looking forward to seeing Swordplay make her debut at Canterbury last week but she was a late scratching after getting her leg up in the barriers. The daughter of Shalaa has shown plenty of ability and speed to lead all-the-way for big wins in her two barrier trials under Rachel King. 'This is obviously 'Take Two' after she was scratched at the barriers last Wednesday which was unfortunate,' he said. 'She's a lovely, promising filly and she couldn't be any more professional than she has been in her trials.' Swordplay has drawn barrier 6 in the TAB Handicap (1100m) with King aboard. 'She has good speed and should roll forward to settle in the first few. Hopefully she brings her trials form to race day,' Baker said. Baker also has Jarrito set to debut in the same race. The daughter of I Am Invincible and Group 1 winner Spright has placed in both trials but will improve with race experience according to Baker. 'She is lovely filly who is still a little bit raw but has done enough in her trials to say she is ready to go to the races,' he said. 'She is definitely going to be better for the run but she is an exciting filly. 'She has drawn an ideal gate and she will hopefully get a smother just behind the speed. She has got a really nice turn of foot.' Baker was pleased with Regimental Colours in her first campaign where she placed in two of her three runs at Canterbury and is looking forward to her return in the Hitotsu At Arrowfield Plate (1100m). 'She has improved a lot both mentally and physically from what she did that preparation,' he said. 'Her trials have been good and while she is open to improvement, she is there to run well.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Well-bred filly Manaajem kicked off her career with a win and trainer Peter Snowden is quietly confident she can start her second campaign the same way. A three-quarter sister to recent Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Charm Stone and a full sister to Snowden's dual Listed winner Najmaty, Manaajem showed nice ability winning her two trials before debuting with a big win at Wyong on December 31. After pulling up lame when fifth to Alliri on the Kensington 15 days later and was spelled. 'She was just immature and jarred up in her knees,' said Snowden. 'That's why we gave her a good spell and she seems a lot stronger this time in. We have had no issues with her at all.' The daughter of Tassort has trialled stylishly ahead of her return in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1100m) when she has drawn barrier 3 with Tommy Berry aboard. 'Both her trials have been quite good. We have always thought quite a bit of her and we are pleased with the way she has come back,' Snowden said. 'She has a good draw and Tommy has ridden her in nearly all her work and in her trials. 'We are quietly confident she can run well.' Snowden was hoping to get a maiden win on the board for Catonahotinroof at Canberra last start but things didn't go to plan when she missed the start by seven or eight lengths before finishing less than three lengths behind Celestial Breeze in fifth place. 'She just hopped up in the air as the gates opened and lost all chance,' Snowden said. 'She still ran a slashing race to finish as close as she did.' The three-year-old was sent back to the trials where she came from last to beat Wonderstorm at Warwick Farm on May 26 and will make her presence felt in the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m). 'She trialled really well the other day. She handles the soft track without any problems,' said Snowden. 'That might play into her hands a little bit this week. 'She has been up a while but is still in good shape and certainly capable of running well.' Snowden is happy with the way Earth Dance is coming along but said wants further than the 1600m of the Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire Handicap. 'He will go to 1900 metres at his third start and will be better suited.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- News.com.au
Warwick Farm preview: Bjorn Baker is optimistic in Starmae's chances with weight advantage and an ideal barrier
Trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping a drop in grade and weight can help Starmae get back to winning form when she steps out on her home track. The four-year-old has been good in his three starts this preparation including her last two runs in Saturday metropolitan company when fifth to Memoria at Randwick and seventh to Oh Diamond Lil at the Scone stand-alone meeting on May 17 Starmae carried 56kg and 57kg respectively in those two races and drops down to 54.5kg after the claim of apprentice Olivia Chambers in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). 'This is a good race for her. It's a drop back in grade after running in Saturday grade in her last two where she acquitted herself well,' said Baker. 'She gets a good drop in weight with Olivia's claim and she is one from one on this mare having won at Wyong last year. It was an easy watch for the supporters of Starmae as she shakes her maiden tag! @ZacLloydx @BBakerRacing @MyRacehorseAU â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2024 'Starmae galloped outstanding on Saturday. She was really sharp. 'She may have just taken a couple of runs to get to her peak but this is a good scenario over 1300m again, back in grade, lovely gate (barrier 4) and no weight. 'This is her race to run well.' Baker also saddles up consistent gelding Bat Out Of Hell in the same race where he has drawn barrier 11 but feels he will be better suited once he steps up over a little further. 'He probably needs 1400m and 1500m but he has to start somewhere,' he said. 'He is a horse who always tries his hardest and he has trialled better this time in better than he has in previous preparations. 'We're confident he is going to have a good preparation. Whether it's this week or whether he just gets run under his belt and he'll be ready to go.' Baker was looking forward to seeing Swordplay make her debut at Canterbury last week but she was a late scratching after getting her leg up in the barriers. The daughter of Shalaa has shown plenty of ability and speed to lead all-the-way for big wins in her two barrier trials under Rachel King. 'This is obviously 'Take Two' after she was scratched at the barriers last Wednesday which was unfortunate,' he said. 'She's a lovely, promising filly and she couldn't be any more professional than she has been in her trials.' “VANESSI streaking clear…wins brilliantlyâ€� 🎙ï¸� The 3 year old daughter of Too Darn Hot dropped back to 1100m second up and breaks her maiden with a perfect @nashhot ride! @cwallerracing @RBloodstock @mmsnippets â€' Star Thoroughbreds (@StarTbreds) December 13, 2024 Swordplay has drawn barrier 6 in the TAB Handicap (1100m) with King aboard. 'She has good speed and should roll forward to settle in the first few. Hopefully she brings her trials form to race day,' Baker said. Baker also has Jarrito set to debut in the same race. The daughter of I Am Invincible and Group 1 winner Spright has placed in both trials but will improve with race experience according to Baker. 'She is lovely filly who is still a little bit raw but has done enough in her trials to say she is ready to go to the races,' he said. 'She is definitely going to be better for the run but she is an exciting filly. 'She has drawn an ideal gate and she will hopefully get a smother just behind the speed. She has got a really nice turn of foot.' Baker was pleased with Regimental Colours in her first campaign where she placed in two of her three runs at Canterbury and is looking forward to her return in the Hitotsu At Arrowfield Plate (1100m). 'She has improved a lot both mentally and physically from what she did that preparation,' he said. 'Her trials have been good and while she is open to improvement, she is there to run well.' â– â– â– â– â– Well-bred filly Manaajem kicked off her career with a win and trainer Peter Snowden is quietly confident she can start her second campaign the same way. A three-quarter sister to recent Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Charm Stone and a full sister to Snowden's dual Listed winner Najmaty, Manaajem showed nice ability winning her two trials before debuting with a big win at Wyong on December 31. After pulling up lame when fifth to Alliri on the Kensington 15 days later and was spelled. 'She was just immature and jarred up in her knees,' said Snowden. 'That's why we gave her a good spell and she seems a lot stronger this time in. We have had no issues with her at all.' The daughter of Tassort has trialled stylishly ahead of her return in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1100m) when she has drawn barrier 3 with Tommy Berry aboard. Another smart one for TASSORTðŸ�°ðŸ'¥ The @EmiratesPark bred & raced MANAAJEM is individual winner no.21 for her sire, scoring first time asking after 2 previous trial wins🚀 Royally bred with the talent to matchðŸ'° Congratulations to the @SnowdenRacing1 team & all winning… â€' Newgate (@NewgateFarm) December 31, 2024 'Both her trials have been quite good. We have always thought quite a bit of her and we are pleased with the way she has come back,' Snowden said. 'She has a good draw and Tommy has ridden her in nearly all her work and in her trials. 'We are quietly confident she can run well.' Snowden was hoping to get a maiden win on the board for Catonahotinroof at Canberra last start but things didn't go to plan when she missed the start by seven or eight lengths before finishing less than three lengths behind Celestial Breeze in fifth place. 'She just hopped up in the air as the gates opened and lost all chance,' Snowden said. 'She still ran a slashing race to finish as close as she did.' The three-year-old was sent back to the trials where she came from last to beat Wonderstorm at Warwick Farm on May 26 and will make her presence felt in the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m). 'She trialled really well the other day. She handles the soft track without any problems,' said Snowden. 'That might play into her hands a little bit this week. 'She has been up a while but is still in good shape and certainly capable of running well.' Snowden is happy with the way Earth Dance Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire Handicap.
The Age
30-05-2025
- The Age
Race-by-race preview and tips for Saturday meeting at Rosehill
4. Codetta might find 1100m a touch sharp, given her three runs to date have been over 1200m, but there is enough in the early price to take the punt on her. She remains an underrated filly for Michael Freedman despite her good record. The prospect of a soft track is perfect too. She is versatile in terms of where she can settle, which gives apprentice Jace McMurray a few options pending her getaway. She resumed a winner last time in, albeit in provincial Class 1 company. Was well beaten before spelling by Scintilla, but the winner is a smart filly, and Flying Thinker was back in third. 13. Ellipsis has been met with early support. She's an improving Bjorn Baker-trained filly. Only won narrowly first up, but there was merit to that performance, hitting the front a long way from home. Flying Embers ran her to a narrow margin, and she has since won twice herself. Ellipsis tackles this five weeks between runs but has won a trial since. Maps well from the inside. 6. Don't Forget Jack has had three different homes despite being just six starts into his career. How To Play It: Codetta WIN Race 6 - 1.55pm: RANVET HANDICAP (1500m) 8. Scalextrics was posted three deep at Doomben last start. It was a brave effort to keep finding the line to hold down fifth. The race was won by Fukubana, a good form reference for this despite the four-length margin. The five-year-old, trained by Matt Smith, may have been flattered by the heavy track given he loves wet ground, but Saturday's track, although improving, should still be rain-affected. Prior to last start Scalextrics ran a close-up third behind Thunderlips who has run well since. Back in fourth was 7. Little Cointreau, which the market has pegged as one of the key chances. 3. Furious looked the winner at Kensington last start, dropping back to midweek company but was run down by Pippie Beach in a tight finish. They beat the third horse two lengths. Has won out to the mile, so 1500m looks perfect third up. 4. Enter The Dragon has scrambled home by narrow margins at his past two starts, but winning has become a habit for this three-year-old. His record reads five wins from seven starts. How To Play It: Scalextrics EACH WAY Race 7 - 2.30pm: ASAHI SUPER DRY HANDICAP (1200m) 10. Kerguelen has only raced once in the past 10 months. He was beaten as an odds-on favourite at Canterbury back in November. It was only narrowly. He was tipped straight out thereafter. The four-year-old has trialled twice ahead of his return, doing it comfortably. To this point, the gelding boasts a record of 5:2:3-0. One of those defeats was to Cool Jakey and another Eye Of The Fire. Kerguelen is a proven fresh horse, is still progressive and should get the perfect run in transit from the draw. Kerrin McEvoy jumps aboard for the first time. Four of his five starts have been on heavy tracks. 2. Spanish Fox has found 1100m too sharp in two runs back. He is creeping out to his right trip now. He strung together five straight wins last campaign out to 1300m. Like the way he kept chasing Zealously at Scone last start. 9. Unstopabull caught the eye when running fifth in that same Scone race. He was dragged back to last in the run. Hoping for a cleaner getaway on Saturday. Out to 1200m now on a soft track looks ideal. How To Play It: Kerguelen WIN Race 8 - 3.05pm: KIA LORD MAYORS CUP (2000m) 5. Glory Daze appreciated getting out to 2000m third up. It looked like a form reversal on paper, but his first and second up runs did have merit. His record over 2000m reads 4:3-1-0. The six-year-old is a big gelding, so needs room. That sees barrier 2 potentially pose some problems, but with clear running, he'll be hard to hold out on the quick backup. It was a very testing, heavy track last Saturday, but Glory Daze has bounced out of that run for the stable to turn him out seven days later. Evenly matched race, and that might give him a small edge. 7. Kadavar is likely to still be a run short of producing his best, and he maps to be giving away a big head start from the wide gate, but he charged home in the Scone Cup over the mile first up. Looking back on 11. Don Diego De Vega 's two failures over the spring, we can chalk those down to not being comfortable on good tracks. His two prior Australian runs, on soft and heavy ground, are perhaps a better indication of his talent. How To Play It: Glory Daze WIN Race 9 - 3.40pm: CAPTIVANT @ KIA ORA HANDICAP (1800m) 12. Freight Train hasn't had much go his way in his past two starts. Given his tendency of laying in, connections have decided to try the four-year-old the Sydney way for the first time. The son of Shamus Award, trained by Price and Kent, has travelled like he has had something to offer in his two most recent runs, but has struck traffic. First at Flemington and then most recently at Caulfield behind stablemate Wonderkid. The appeal of Freight Train also lies in the fact that he brings a different form line into this. The Scone 1700m reference looks the obvious one here, but it was a blanket finish. Still not sure how 14. Gentileschi didn't win at Scone. She rushed home to be beaten a nostril. Not even. She was only second up there. Like the progression out to 1800m and she appreciates getting her toe into the ground. The barrier isn't so scary once you factor in the emergencies. 7. Kind Words was just as strong to the line and just missed herself. She too is suited creeping out to 1800m. How To Play It: Freight Train WIN Race 10 - 4.20pm: TAB HANDICAP (1200m) 10. Weeping Woman looks to be flying off her two trials. The Joe Pride-trained mare trucked to the line in the first of those before gapping her rivals most recently. She is an improving mare, yet already boasts a record of four wins form 10 starts. She ended last campaign a 3.5 length winner at Wyong, running second to Gangster Granny at Canterbury prior to that. The 1200m as a kick off says she is ready to go first up given that she has resumed over 1000m in her three previous campaigns. Has good natural speed but she doesn't have to lead. 7. Pajanti didn't get the clearest of passages at Randwick first up, charging home into second behind all-the-way winner Memoria. Like that she has been kept fresh since, five weeks between runs, given the mare's first up record. 17. So You Pence dodged the heavy track last Saturday where she was set to jump a firm favourite in Highway Handicap company. How To Play It: Weeping Woman WIN
