The Chosen One sets sights on Sydney

Murray Baker has welcomed a rain-affected track for today’s Haunui Farm WFA Group One Classic (1600m) at Otaki.

The Cambridge conditioner and his training partner Andrew Forsman will produce The Chosen One in the weight-for-age feature, and while the Savabeel four-year-old entire has yet to place on tracks worse than dead, the Slow7 track is expected to suit.

‘‘We’re very happy with The Chosen One. This race is a bit short of his best but the track will have a bit of juice in it so it will slow them down a bit,’’ Baker said.

While The Chosen One’s best performances have been at 2000m and further, he did win the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton at his second start, pushed Group I winner Sword Of Osman when second over 1200m resuming at Ellerslie last summer, and finished fifth in the Group II Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee

Valley when resuming last spring.

‘‘This is probably a bit short for him but he’s trialled up well and we’ve got to get him under way. He was just getting warmed up at the finish of that 1200m trial. He’s an autumn four-yearold now and he’s just coming to it.’’

Baker said safely through today’s race, The Chosen One would head to Sydney with the Listed Randwick City Stakes (2000m) a possible first-up assignment on March 7.

After that, the Group III Manion Cup (2400m) at Rosehill on March 21 and the Group II Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) at Randwick on April 4 are further possible lead-up races to the Group I Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick on April 11.

‘‘If he was going well enough, we could look at the Tancred Stakes (Group I 2400m).’’

‘‘He’s trialled up well and we’ve got to get him under way.’’ Murray Baker on The Chosen One