Baker gets up with lone Reign at peak
FORMER leading jockey Garry Baker has celebrated more success as a trainer, with his only horse in work winning at the Gold Coast.
Hoop Chris Whiteley steered the Baker-trained Rolling Reign to victory in Saturday’s Maiden Handicap (1400m) at Aquis Park, holding off Hell On Turf in a close battle down the straight.
Baker enjoyed many years of success as a jockey until his retirement in 2009 after riding about 1000 winners in Australia, Korea and Macao.
He only has three horses in total, all owned by his father Cole, while Baker fills in his spare time by riding track work for trainer Michael Costa.
“I was a leading rider here at the Coast and rode over in Macao and Korea,” Baker said.
“I had a business and it went under so I just came back riding trackwork for Waller first (at his Gold Coast stable) then I left and went to Michael.
“I’ve enjoyed being back training for the last few years.”
The race was the third of Rolling Reign’s career and the first his second preparation. The first featured two eighth-place finishes.
Those two runs came on rain-affected tracks on the Gold Coast and Baker was confident the four-year-old gelding could get the job done.
“It was his first time on a dry track so he raced on two heavy tracks last time and it didn’t suit him so he has a bit of ability,” Baker said.
“I thought he had a good chance.
“He has been working well. He has had a trial and a couple of jump outs so he was ready for (Saturday).”
Baker said there were no set plans in place for Rolling Reign who he hoped would become a stayer.