Baker eyes Oz riches
Record-setting trainer Murray Baker is marshalling his most formidable troops for an all-out spring assault in Melbourne.
The Cambridge horseman posted his 20th Group One victory across the Tasman – more than any other New Zealand-based trainer – in the autumn when Bonneval coasted away with the ATC Oaks.
And now, Makfi’s powerhouse daughter is one of three Group One-winning contenders that Baker has in line to contest the Caulfield Cup.
Jon Snow (ATC Derby) and Lizzie l’amour (New Zealand Stakes) are also in the mix, and an outstanding stable foursome is completed by the Ethereal Stakes winner and Oaks placegetter Eleonora.
‘‘Eleonora’s only had the 10 starts, won three and missed a place only once and that was when she got held up badly,’’ said Baker, who trains in partnership with Andrew Forsman.
‘‘It’s just all about keeping them sound and happy until they get on that plane later on in August.
‘‘They will all be looking at the Caulfield Cup and Lizzie l’amour could run in some fillies and mares’ races on the way through.
‘‘There’s also the (New Zealand Bloodstock) Memsie Stakes for them to kick off or the weight-forage mile (Makybe Diva Stakes) a week later at Flemington.’’
An outstanding three-year-old campaign will see Bonneval chasing her fifth consecutive win when she resumes.
‘‘She’s very good and she’s got to be a big chance to get the Horse of the Year,’’ Baker said.
‘‘She won two Oaks and at Randwick she was just outstanding – you wouldn’t have given her a chance 500 metres from home and yet she won by four and a half lengths,’’ Baker said.
History also tells him that Jon Snow has the right credentials to succeed in the spring.
‘‘Australian Derby form usually works out well in Melbourne,’’ Baker said. ‘‘Nom du Jeu won in Sydney and ran second in the Caulfield Cup, Dundeel was the leading four-year-old at weight-forage and Mongolian Khan won the Caulfield Cup.
‘‘Jon Snow’s form here was also very good – he was third in three big races and he’s a big, powerful horse now. He’s developed a lot with a spell.’’
Baker’s travelling party will be completed by the rising three-yearold Weather With You, who placed in two of his three starts this season including a runner-up finish in the Champagne Stakes.