Slipper still in Bjorn’s sights
TRAINER Bjorn Baker hasn’t given up on his Golden Slipper dream with unraced filly Rosina Kojonup as she begins her attempt to defy racing history in the Tab.com.au Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens tomorrow.
First starter Rosina Kojonup is by Shamus Award out of Courgette, making her the younger (half) sister of glamour filly She Will Reign, winner of the Golden Slipper last year.
She Will Reign cost only $20,000 as a yearling and has become racing’s ultimate “Cinderella story”, winning the world’s richest juvenile race and already earning nearly $3.2 million prizemoney.
Rosina Kojonup went through the sale ring at the Inglis Easter Sales only a couple of weeks after She Will Reign’s Golden Slipper triumph and not surprisingly fetched $425,000.
Baker has only given Rosina Kojonup one barrier trial ahead of her race debut tomorrow. The filly scored comfortably over 800m at Randwick on February 12.
“It is a bit of an ask going straight to 1100m off one trial, I’m not discounting that, but she is a nice filly, a natural athlete, and we have to run,’’ Baker said.