Latest news with #BjornBaker
Daily Telegraph
03-06-2025
- General
- 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
03-06-2025
- General
- 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.
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer John Sargent aiming to again win Randwick staying feature with Casual Connection
Trainer John Sargent is ready to go back to the future with Casual Connection in the PF Civil Handicap (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Casual Connection, a resolute stayer who revels on wet tracks, won this race 12 months ago to earn his chance in the Brisbane Cup. But a firm Eagle Farm track meant Sargent's stayer struggled when only eighth in the Group 2 race, won by the Bjorn Baker -trained Alegron. Sargent hasn't ruled out giving Casual Connection another crack at a Brisbane Cup but the trainer has heeded the lessons from last year. 'I will only run him in the Brisbane Cup if he gets a wet track,'' Sargent said. 'This horse loves it soft or heavy so Randwick on Saturday will be ideal for him.'' Sargent was also buoyed by the barrier draw which has Casual Connection out in gate 15 but he will come in a few barriers after scratchings as the field size is restricted to 13 starters. 'Casual Connection has drawn the rails barrier his last two starts which doesn't suit him,'' the trainer said. 'He is the type of stayer that needs to get his momentum going and make a long, sustained run. 'He's not a sit-and-sprint type so the wider barrier will give him enough room.'' Casual Connection is at $12 and stablemate So Dazzling $19 with TAB Fixed Odds for the Randwick staying race in which the Chris Waller -trained Ahuriri is the $3.80 favourite. So Dazzling has had two runs back from a spell and Sargent is expecting a more competitive run now the mare gets onto her preferred heavy track surface. Sargent is also considering a Brisbane carnival campaign for three-year-old filly Bearings if she runs well in the Chalouhi Handicap (1800m). Bearings is also entered for a race at Newcastle on Saturday but the trainer confirmed she would start at Randwick in a bid to increase her rating enough to get into the Queensland Oaks field next month. 'If Bearings can win at Randwick we will take her up for the Oaks,'' Sargent said. 'She won her maiden at Goulburn then we had to go back from a wide draw at Kensington but she got home strongly. She's a promising staying filly.''
The Australian
17-05-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Caballus back with a bang to claim Ortensia Stakes
Caballus announced his return as a sprinting force with a commanding comeback win at Scone on Saturday. Trainer Bjorn Baker, who once held Everest ambitions for Caballus, has reason to aim high with the four-year-old again after his dominant win in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). This was the same Caballus who showed considerable promise last season but lost his way during the spring with five unplaced runs. He was then gelded and also underwent throat surgery. • 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! Baker wasn't at Scone on Saturday but his stable foreman Glen Lobb said Caballus had been hinting for some weeks that he was ready to finally realise his potential. 'Josh Parr has been riding Caballus in his work and about a month ago he said this horse was airborne, he's a different horse after his two surgeries,' Lobb said. 'Caballus had been trialling well and we were confident he would be hard to beat today. 'He had a good run from the inside barrier but he slightly missed the start and had to do a bit of work to get up there. 'Then he over-raced a bit and I was a little worried but when he let down, he let down good. 'The race opened up beautifully for him and he was very impressive. He's in for a good preparation, he's a very nice horse.' Caballus, ridden by Ashley Morgan, was confidently backed into $5.50 equal favouritism and he powered past early leader The Novelist ($13) to win by three-quarters of a length with Firestar ($26) just over a length away third. • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win Ostraka and Pisanello were also sent out $5.50 equal favourites and ran fourth and fifth respectively. Caballus continued the breakout seasons for Baker and Morgan. Baker, who is second the Sydney trainers premiership with 77 wins, has now prepared 25 stakes winners for the season including three at Group 1 level, for stable prizemoney for nearly $24.5 million. Morgan has also had a sensational season. He is nearing a century of wins on all tracks, he rode the first Group 1 winner of his career on Private Harry in The Galaxy, and Caballus was his sixth stakes win. 'It was good to see this horse do that today and hopefully he gets some confidence from that win,' Morgan said. 'I rode him work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse. 'There was so much to like about his effort today, particularly the way he attacked the line. He really wanted to win.'
News.com.au
17-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Two surgeries have enabled Caballus to turn promise into success with a smart victory in the Listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone
Caballus announced his return as a sprinting force with a commanding comeback win at Scone on Saturday. Trainer Bjorn Baker, who once held Everest ambitions for Caballus, has reason to aim high with the four-year-old again after his dominant win in the Listed $200,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m). This was the same Caballus who showed considerable promise last season but lost his way during the spring with five unplaced runs. He was then gelded and also underwent throat surgery. Baker wasn't at Scone on Saturday but his stable foreman Glen Lobb said Caballus had been hinting for some weeks that he was ready to finally realise his potential. ' Josh Parr has been riding Caballus in his work and about a month ago he said this horse was airborne, he's a different horse after his two surgeries,' Lobb said. 'Caballus had been trialling well and we were confident he would be hard to beat today. 'He had a good run from the inside barrier but he slightly missed the start and had to do a bit of work to get up there. 'Then he over-raced a bit and I was a little worried but when he let down, he let down good. 'The race opened up beautifully for him and he was very impressive. He's in for a good preparation, he's a very nice horse.' Caballus, ridden by Ashley Morgan, was confidently backed into $5.50 equal favouritism and he powered past early leader The Novelist ($13) to win by three-quarters of a length with Firestar ($26) just over a length away third. Caballus is too good in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone! ðŸ'¥ @AshMorgan6 | @BBakerRacing â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 17, 2025 • Summer Flame ignites with boilover stakes win Ostraka and Pisanello were also sent out $5.50 equal favourites and ran fourth and fifth respectively. Caballus continued the breakout seasons for Baker and Morgan. Baker, who is second the Sydney trainers premiership with 77 wins, has now prepared 25 stakes winners for the season including three at Group 1 level, for stable prizemoney for nearly $24.5 million. Morgan has also had a sensational season. He is nearing a century of wins on all tracks, he rode the first Group 1 winner of his career on Private Harry in The Galaxy, and Caballus was his sixth stakes win. 'It was good to see this horse do that today and hopefully he gets some confidence from that win,' Morgan said. 'I rode him work during the week and when you get the chance to sit on him, you understand why they have such a high opinion of the horse. 'There was so much to like about his effort today, particularly the way he attacked the line. He really wanted to win.'
