Baker closes on another century

TRAINER Bjorn Baker is preparing to produce two of the best- bred horses in Australian racing this week as his stable edges closer to a century of wins for the season.

Baker has trained 97 winners in 2017- 18 and has three good chances at Gosford today — Bel’s Boy, Smartypy and Horn.

But at Canterbury Park tomorrow, Baker is saddling up first starter Nordics, the highprofile juvenile colt by Triple Crown winner Dundeel out of former champion filly Miss Finland, herself a five- time Group 1 winner including the 2006 Golden Slipper and Victoria Oaks.

Baker is also likely to accept for the Hawkesbury provincials on Thursday with The Greatest, the well- named four- year- old gelding by Winx’s sire, Street Cry, out of the three- time Group 1 winner Samantha Miss, a Victoria Oaks ( 2008) winner.

Nordics, a $ 900,000 Easter Yearling Sale purchase, has drawn barrier 11 for his longawaited race debut. He has impressed in two barrier trials, including a Randwick 910m heat win last week.

“I do like the horse and I know he is going to get better in time,’’ Baker said.

“He was a yearling that caught my eye at the sale last year. His trials have been good and I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do at the races.’’

The Greatest, bred and owned by John Singleton, is a rising five- year- old with only two previous race starts, winning on debut at Nowra before a second at Goulburn last summer.

“He’s a nice horse and went well at his two runs for me,’’ Baker said. “He’s ready to resume and Hawkesbury does look a suitable race for him.’’

Baker could pass the 100win barrier for the third successive season as early as today’s Gosford meeting.

“If we get the 100 winners, it will be a pleasing result as we have had a good year . . . but it has also been a year of what could have been with a few near misses at Group 1 level.’’