Long-range forecast could be right

WEATHER With You could deliver on a long-range plan when he bids to give prominent New Zealand trainer Murray Baker a second Victoria Derby at Flemington.

Baker won the 2010 Derby with Lion Tamer when he trained in partnership with his son Bjorn, now a successful Sydney trainer.

Now teamed with Andrew Forsman, Baker has trained the winners of 21 Group 1 races in Australia, more than any other New Zealander.

He saddles up Weather With You ($7.50) in tomorrow’s $1.5 million classic having pinpointed the race as his target back in April.

That was after Weather With You finished second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Ellerslie for twoyear-olds.

“He ran second to a very good horse and ran on well,” Baker said. “The Champagne Stakes has been a great measuring stick in past years for horses going on.

“Jezabeel won it and ended up winning the Melbourne Cup. Lion Tamer won it. Kibbutz ran third in it (2007) and went on to win the Victoria Derby. A lot of good horses have come out of that race.”