Infatuation behind goal
Trainer eyes another Golden Slipper win
SYDNEY trainer Bjorn Baker believes he has the filly to give him a serious crack at taking out a second Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast in January.
Baker won the race in 2014, when Unencumbered gave the late Nathan Berry his biggest win in the saddle.
Baker now plans to target the 2023 race with Infatuation, a daughter of I Am Invincible, who finished a close second behind early Golden Slipper second favourite, Barber, in the $1m Golden Gift earlier this month.
“She had a week and a bit out in the paddock after the Golden Gift and only returned late last week,” Baker said.
“I’m thrilled with how she did in the little break.
“She earned $190,000 running second in the Golden Gift, so that’s going to get her into the Magic Millions and the Golden Slipper looking further into the future.”
Baker plans to trial Infatuation at Randwick on December 13.
“The Bruce Mclachlan is a Magic Millions lead-up race I am looking at,” he said. “It’s the race I won with Unencumbered leading into his Magic Millions win in 2014.
“It used to be two weeks before the Magic Millions, but now it’s three weeks out and I think that suits us even better.
“I think it would be a good thing to get her up to Queensland early.
“With the heat up there in the heart of summer, sometimes young inexperienced horses can melt up there until they adjust, so going up early would allow us plenty of time to get used to the conditions.”
No bookies have released a Magic Millions market as of yet, but Infatuation is a $26 chance in Tab.com.au’s Golden Slipper market. The favourite at $8 is King’s Gambit ahead of Barber at $11.