Burbero’s win provides Baker with some cheer

BJORN BAKER finished one of the toughest weeks of his training career as a winner when Burbero flew late to win the Group II Missile Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

Baker had faced stewards in Brisbane on Tuesday but was cleared of any wrongdoing as his stablehand Glen Lobb was disqualified for three months and fined $1000 after being found with an unregistered product tagged “Kentucky Green” when with Diademe on race morning of the Tatt’s Tiara in June.

“When you have to front stewards on something like that there is pressure because you are fighting for your career, but they cleared me,” Baker said.

“It has been a big week and that’s a great way to finish it.

“I actually didn’t even see Burbero until the last 10m. I was actually watching [stablemate] Zaratone because it looked like he would hold on for a long way. Gee he [Burbero] came quick at the end.”

Burbero is heading towards the Epsom Handicap in October and Baker will be hoping for firm ground for his stable star. The Missile (1200m) was Burbero’s 12th win from 23 starts on good tracks.

“His record shows he is better on top of the ground,” Baker said.

“It is a good sign that he is doing that over that trip. The Epsom has always been the plan and we just have to work out how to get there.

“He is the sort of horse that is going to relax and hit the line like that and I think he can measure up to a race like the Epsom. I have to say I thought Zaratone did a great job as well.”

Zaratone set up a strong pace and was still kicking in front at the 100m. He was claimed first by Weary, on the outside, and then Burbero zoomed through the middle after New Zealand apprentice Rory Hutchings had weaved a passage.

The Missile gave Hutchings his first group win in Australia. “I didn’t think it would happen this quickly and I was lucky because I only got the ride because of Brodie [Loy’s] fall,” Hutchings said.

“I had to come through them. He was always travelling but just couldn’t keep up. When I went for him he just took off.”

‘When you have to front stewards on something like that there is pressure.’

Bjorn Baker