Baker caps big weekend
It was a memorable 24 hours in the decorated racing career of Cambridge horseman Murray Baker.
On Friday evening, he was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and he celebrated his inclusion in style on Saturday afternoon when he produced Lizzie L’Amour for a dazzling victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
‘‘She’s flying at the moment and she won that pretty easily,’’ said Baker, who trains with Andrew Forsman.
‘‘She’s been right in form ever since she came back from Australia, things just didn’t work out for her there.’’
Lizzie L’Amour failed to fire in four spring appearances in Melbourne, but she’s turned it around at home with a first-up win in the
Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) before runner-up finishes in the
Gr.1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) and the
Gr.2 Westbury Classic (1400m). The Zabeel mare raced close to the pace at Te Rapa before rider Matt Cameron allowed her to amble closer three wide across the top.
They took control 250m from home and drew clear effortlessly to beat Windflower and the winner’s stablemate Nicoletta took third.
‘‘She has a nomination for the Auckland Cup, but I think she’ll go to the Bonecrusher instead,’’ Baker said. ‘‘We’ll put in a nomination for the Queen Elizabeth in Sydney and see how long she holds up – she’s certainly in great touch at the moment.’’
Nicoletta made the running and she fought on gallantly in the run home. ‘‘It was a terrific run from a stud point of view,’’ Baker said. ‘‘She’s a Group Three winner and Group One placed, she’s probably done enough.’’
Lizzie L’Amour has now won seven of her 19 starts and she has been ridden in both of her Group One victories, her first was in the New Zealand Stakes (2000m), by Cameron. ● Busy is best for New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year front-runner Dijon Bleu.
The Awapuni three-year-old won the first leg of the series, the
Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and subsequently placed in the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes
(1550m).
She then posted a dominant victory in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes
(1600m) and at Te Rapa on Saturday she produced a commanding display to waltz away with the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m).
Dijon Bleu now has 30 points in the Filly of the Year series with her closest rival Contessa Vanessa on 13.5.
Trainer Lisa Latta has yet to fully commit Dijon Bleu to next month’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks
(2400m), but it’s becoming hard to argue against.
‘‘We’ll head to the Lowland Stakes first and take it from there, she’s been up a long time,’’ she said.
Dijon Bleu was making her first start beyond a mile at Te Rapa and she took it all in her stride for rider Jonathan Riddell, who replaced a suspended Leith Innes.