Latest news with #Benchmark72Handicap
Courier-Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
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.'
Mercury
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Mercury
Canterbury preview: Luke Price wants a soft option for Mogwai
Co-trainer Luke Price feels Mogwai has found himself in the right race to kick off his latest campaign but hopes the track improves back into the soft range. Despite Mogwai having a heavy track win to his credit, Price believes a soft track is ideal for the former Godolphin gelding. 'While he has won on a heavy track once before, he is a horse whose best form is on Good 4 to Soft 6,' said Price, who trains in partnership with his father, Robert. The son of Epaulette made his way to the Price's Kembla base late last year when purchased on Inglis Digital for $75,000. He kicked off for his new trainers in the best possible fashion with an all-the-way win from Tartana and So Good So Cool at Kembla on December 28. He then stepped straight to Saturday city grade when a neck third behind Zondee at Rosehill on January 18 before two unplaced runs. 'He did a good job last campaign after a long time off,' Price said. 'He scored a nice win first-up albeit in a provincial race on his home track but he did carry a big weight. 'He went great at his next start in city grade when he ran third. 'I think he's a horse who likes to stride along. He doesn't like being held up which happened at his last run.' The four-year-old is leading contender in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1250m) first-up provided the track improves. 'He is coming up really well, I like Tommy Berry on him and I don't mind the barrier. It gives him room to stride along where he is comfortable,' he said. 'If he lobs outside the leader, he can run a very cheeky race.' Price believes Canterbury is the ideal track for Invade And Conquer who likes to control things in front. Like Mogwai, Price said the track condition is all important to the gelding who was unplaced in both runs on heavy ground. 'He's honest but he just needs a Soft 5 track at worst,' he said. 'I'm not sure if he will go around this week. We will just see how the track comes up on race morning.' The four-year-old was a dominant winner on his home track back on March 22 before a wide run when eighth at Hawkesbury followed by a fourth at Kembla. He led and give a good kick on straightening at Kembla last start before being caught on the post by Hyperbolic. From barrier 3, he would be a good chance in the Benchmark 72 (1550m) with Rachel King aboard. 'He was brave the other day. He just didn't see the horse come down the outside,' said Price. 'He's drawn well and has a good jockey on in Rachel who rates them very well in front.' The Price's other runner for the day is Miss Hvar in the Benchmark 72 (1550m) for fillies and mares. The daughter of Ocean Park debuted with a strong closing run from well back to grab Kuwait on the line at Kembla on April 19 before jumping up to a Benchmark 68 when fourth to Hyperbolic on May 10. 'I thought she ran really well the other day in a slowly run race that was dominated by the on speed horses,' Price said. 'She had to make a sustained run from near last and the track was starting to get a doughy for her. 'She has a good rider on in Tyler Schiller, has no weight and will go back any way so the barrier is not a huge concern. 'Like the other two, I just hope the track dries up a bit.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Connections of Gunroom are banking on three key factors in the gelding's bid to break through for his first win. After leading at Warwick Farm last start, Gunroom looked home before being caught late be the flying Hopper. The son of Snitzel, who hails from the family of eight-time Group 1 winner Apache Cat, will give his rivals something to catch in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1250m). 'I thought he had the race won last start hence why we have opted to claim this week and the blinkers go on,' said Ben Vassallo, racing manager for B K Racing and Breeding. 'Also, getting him around a tighter circumference track that is rain affected as well as two kilo claim with Braith Nock. 'I think those factors can have him in a good position to break his maiden this week.' The Joe Pride-trained three-year-old was actually first past the post on debut at Hawkesbury last October before losing the race on protest to Lady Zodiac followed by a third at Wyong. This campaign, Gunroom resumed with a sixth at Hawkesbury before second placings to Maori Chief and Hopper in Super Maidens at Kensington and Warwick Farm taking his overall record to four placings from six starts. 'He hasn't been disappointing. It's just been frustrating to be so close to be honest,' Vassallo said. 'The jockey was soft on him late. It probably would have helped us in the (stewards) room if he pushed him out. 'Since then, he has had some good runs but some frustrating seconds. 'His pedigree says he will be better over further but we just want to win that maiden and then we can look to step him up in trip next preparation to 1400m or a mile.' B K Racing and Breeding also have Long Legs making her debut in the Ranvet Handicap (1100m) for two-year-old fillies. The Gary Portelli-trained daughter of Russian Revolution have been very good in both barrier trials on wet ground with Andrew Calder aboard who sticks with her. 'She is a beautiful filly. She is probably more of a three-year-old type than a two-year-old but we are late in the season now,' Vassallo said. 'She has thrived off everything we have asked of her. 'She has had a couple of weeks to prepare for this off that second trial. 'I expect her to run right up to her trials especially with the sting out of the ground.'
Courier-Mail
09-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is keen to test to the emerging potential of stable recruit Winning Proposal in the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday. Winning Proposal is making her debut for the Baker stable but has impressed in two recent barrier trials, winning a Randwick 740m heat then finishing a close third to Group 1 winner Schwarz in a 1050m trial at the same track. • 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 talented three-year-old filly has won two of her 10 races but has been competitive against some of the best fillies in training this season. 'Winning Proposal has just joined our stable and we are still getting to know her but her trials have been great,'' Baker said. 'I've been really happy with how she is coming up this preparation and she's a filly that handles soft to heavy tracks so she's in at the right time of the season. 'This is a tough race for her first-up at Gosford but she's ready to go and I'm looking forward to seeing what she can do on Saturday.'' • Ray and Duff analyse every race for Gosford stand-alone meet Winning Proposal continues to firm in TAB betting and is challenging for favouritism at $5.50 behind Rantan at $5. Baker has a strong team for the Gosford stand-alone meeting including in-form mare Yankee One ($7.50) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m). Yankee One, who has won three of her last four starts, has topweight of 61kg but Baker has secured 2kg-claiming apprentice Anna Roper to reduce the mare's impost. 'I can't fault Yankee One,'' Baker said. 'Her work this week has been really good and she couldn't be going better.'' Winning Proposal will have her first start for the Bjorn Baker stable at Gosford today. Picture: Bradley Photos Baker is also expecting Shezanalister ($8.50) to make her presence felt in the Group 3 $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m). Shezanalister has been freshened since finishing at the rear of the field in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes won by Briasa a month ago but the mare is back in her right grade at Gosford. 'I'm keen to run her, she's nice and fresh for this race,'' Baker said. 'She has drawn a little awkwardly but we know she has a powerful finish.'' Baker is on weather watch before deciding if he runs Thunderlips ($23 in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m). The Gosford track was rated a Soft 7 on Friday and with some showers forecast for Saturday, Baker is concerned about a deteriorating track for Thunderlips. Baker also Raikkonen ($2.70 favourite) for the Gosford closer, and earlier in the program two-year-olds Tiberius ($8.50) and Cold Gin ($14) clashing in the Ortus Financial Handicap (1200m). ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ GOSFORD BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS RACE 1: Duck Egg Blue $3.60-$3.50, The Great Houdini $8-$5, Trafalgar Square $6-$5 RACE 2: Sequista $2.30-$2.15, Hidden Achievement $11-$6.50, Tiberius $11-$8.50, Green Spaces $15-$10 RACE 3: Ritzsun $8-$7.50 RACE 4: Engine Room $3.60-$3.30, Pure Alpha $26-$8 RACE 5: Cormac T $6-$5, Sun God $8-$7.50, All Hunky Dory $15-$8, Junebug $26-$10 RACE 6: Rantan $6-$5, Winning Proposal $6-$5.50 RACE 7: Les Vampires $4.60-$4.20, Hezashocka $4.60-$4.40 RACE 8: Know Thyself $4.60-$3.50, Depth Of Character $4.60-$4.40, Mare Of Mt Buller $11-$7 RACE 9: Pereille $8-$7, Warnie $8-$7, Xidaki $11-$8.50, Shezanalister $11-$8.50, Barber $26-$12 RACE 10: Raikkonen $2.80-$2.70, King Of Roseau $6-$4.80, Acappella Sun $15-$8 EARLY QUADDIE RACE 3: 1, 4, 8, 14 RACE 4: 1, 2, 4, 12 RACE 5: 3, 7, 9, 14 RACE 6: 5, 6, 7 QUADDIE RACE 7: 2, 3, 9, 12 RACE 8: 2, 4, 8, 10 RACE 9: 8, 9, 15 RACE 10: 4, 5, 6, 10 • 'On at the right time': Bayliss bullish about import at Gosford ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ PRICE CHECK PURE ALPHA (race 4) and Junebug (race 5) have been the biggest firmers in TAB betting for the Gosford meeting. The Chris Waller-trained Pure Alpha has been racing in Victoria but returns for Gosford where he likely have suitable soft-heavy tracks conditions. Pure Alpha opened at $26 but is into $8. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Junebug, a winner of three of his last five starts, also opened at $26 and is now into $10. SECTIONAL STARS JOISELLE (race 3) has been improved by recent racing and indicated she was close to regaining winning form with her fast finishing third to Massira in a TAB Highway. She ran home her final 600m in 34.65sec, the best of the race and one of the fastest of the meeting. Joiselle was one of the few to break 12sec for her closing 200m sectional with a 11.98sec split. ENGINE ROOM (race 4) was very impressive winning on the Kensington track on Anzac Day. He was back in an awkward spot at the rear of the small field but saved ground on the rail and sprinted a brilliant 200m sectional between the 400m to 200m of 11.34sec to sprint through and takes the lead. He seized control of the race and was cruising to the line but still ran an 11.98sec final 200m to win easily. TRIAL POINTERS WINNING PROPOSAL (race 6) is a talented filly resuming for a new stable but she has impressed in two recent barrier trials. She dominated her 740m heat at Randwick last month, winning by nearly two lengths, then she took on some top class sprinters including Group 1 winner Schwarz when a close third on a heavy track at Randwick over 1050m last Monday. She is primed to sprint well fresh. ACCREDITED (race 9) is resuming after an impressive summer campaign where he reeled off three brilliant wins in succession before finishing unplaced in the Southern Cross Stakes. He's resuming in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes but has shaped well in two Warwick Farm barrier trials over about 800m, finishing seventh under hold when beaten less than two lengths and then a close second to Don't Doubt Merlin. Accredited is a noted first-up performer and his trials indicate he is going as well as ever. BEST BET SEQUISTA (race 2) ran a blinder on debut to finish a close third to top filly Within The Law in the Inglis Nursery back and at her only run since she led for home before finishing fourth to the outstanding Tempted in the Percy Sykes Stakes. Sequista had to do a lot of work first-up and it wasn't surprising she faded late. Her form does read very well for this race but just needs a touch of luck finding a position from her awkward draw and she will be hard to beat. VALUE BET OAKFIELD BADGER (race 1) is a very consistent sprinter who ran on well without threatening the impressive Sunrise at Randwick last start. He gets out to 1200m here and that should suit. He's double figure odds and will give his backers a great sight. Originally published as Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials
