Bjorn Baker banking on ‘Kiwi toughness’ with $34 roughie Pick Up The Tab in Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill

Bjorn Baker has chances across the Rosehill program but is keen to find out if a two-year-old debutant will be an autumn carnival player.

DAILY TELEGRAPH OCTOBER 11, 2023. Bjorn Baker speaking to the media at Warwick Farm Racecourse a head of this weekends Everest. Picture: Adam Yip

Trainer Bjorn Baker reckons Pick Up The Tab is a “tough Kiwi” and will be hoping that quality is on show when his promising colt attempts to put himself in the autumn carnival conversation in Saturday’s Group 3 Canonbury Stakes (1100m).

The Canonbury has provided a good guide for Golden Slipper form in recent times with last year’s winner Shinzo finishing third on debut in this race while 2022 runner-up Best Of Bordeaux took the race out.

Baker will likely know if Pick Up The Tab can reach that level after this weekend against a bunch of quality colts including Traffic Warden, Prost and Fearless.

Pick Up The Tab is a $34 outsider but Baker is adopting a simple philosophy heading into the race.

“You have to be in to win,” Baker said.

“I think he is definitely going to be better when he gets over a little bit further and with time.

“It is about getting him underway.

“It’s a small field and he has a little bit of an awkward gate so we will let him find his feet if he hits the line we will be very happy with him going forward.”

Pick Up The Tab was a $220,000 purchase at last year’s Karaka Sales in New Zealand and has impressed Baker in the early stages of his career.

Baker has given him two trials ahead of his debut with the colt finishing a narrow second in his latest effort over 900m at Rosehill.

“He is a tough Kiwi I think,” Baker said.

“He is a nice colt, he has handled everything will and has had a couple of trials.

“Jason (Collett) quite likes him. It’s obviously a tough ask to go into a race like that and be confident but I think the fact we are running, in time he has a good future.

“There is nothing like race experience to make them a horse this preparation and even the one after.”

Malkovich is closing in on $1m in prizemoney. Picture: Bradley Photos

Baker will be chasing a stakes double on the card with Malkovich set to line up as one of the leading contenders in the Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) with Josh Parr booked.

Malkovich ($5) failed to beat a runner home in his last start at Flemington but has won a trial since.

But the speedy sprinter will have to do something he has never done before to salute in the Southern Cross having never won over 1200m.

“He has been a great sprinter and he is not far off earning a $1m so we would love him to break through that,” Baker said.

“He has just got to find some of his best form and run the 1200m.

“I’ve always thought Rosehill is ideally his right track with the rail out so if it is leaderish.

“We won’t change anything so why not have a crack.”

Baker has chances across the Rosehill card and will have to wait until the last to see one of his best.

Stefi Magnetica ($5.50) has returned from Melbourne after a terrific second at Flemington last start and will chase her third success in her eighth start in the Expect It All This Autumn At ATC Benchmark 72 (1200m) with star apprentice Zac Lloyd aboard.

“Stefi Magnetica went super last start and made ground,” Baker said.

“Her work on Tuesday was excellent and I was probably leaning on not running her initially but there is a couple of scratchings.

“When we do have a good look at it, and if she features on Saturday, we can have a look at some of the better fillies race in the autumn.”

Infatuation is another horse returning from interstate following her sixth in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas on the Gold Coast earlier this month.

Baker has his daughter I Am Invincible racing really well again this preparation and will hunt a second win in the Vale Bill Camer Benchmark 78 Handicap (1350m).

“Infatuation is going super,” Baker said.

“All her runs this preparation have been great and her run in the Magic Millions 3YO was outstanding.

“She just didn’t have a lot of luck when she needed it.

“I am very happy with her. I think we will be more positive on Saturday.

“I think it’s fair to say she back in grade even though it is the older horses but she gets weight relief.”

Baker also has Ita and Taraashoq in the race seven and Lady Of Luxury in race nine.

Manaal forgotten contender in Widden Stakes

Michael Freedman is confident Manaal has the talent required to retain her unbeaten record in Saturday’s Group 3 Widden Stakes (1100m) but race set-up has the Golden Slipper winning trainer wary ahead of her first up test at Rosehill Gardens.

Manaal won Sydney’s first two-year-old race of the season last September when she toughed it out to salute in the Group 3 Gimcrack Stakes (1000m).

Freedman elected to send the gun daughter of Tassort for a spell straight after the maiden black type win to begin preparing for the autumn carnival.

She will make her return in black type company from an awkward draw in barrier eight with Tommy Berry aboard.

Tommy Berry riding Manaal winning the Gimcrack Stakes last spring. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

“I think she is in good order but I am not too sure how the race is going to set up for her in terms of where she is drawn and the 1100m around Rosehill which kind of suits the jump and run-on pace types,” Freedman said.

“Probably from where she is drawn, she will have to drift back a little bit and it just depends where she ends up and how far off the leader she ends up.

“It does suit the jump and run and scamper along so if she is finishing off in good order i would be happy with that heading further into the autumn.”

A date with the Golden Slipper would be at the top of Freedman’s wish list this autumn where Manaal is currently rated a $34 chance.

History will be against Manaal as no Gimcrack Stakes winner has ever trained on to win the Golden Slipper but Freedman has been happy with his filly’s development since her debut win.

“I think she has improved physically from when she won the Gimcrack,” Freedman said.

“Hopefully that translates into a good autumn.

“The favourite (Lady Of Camelot) on Saturday ran behind her in the Gimcrack but I think going into Saturday it’s more about wait and see how she comes back and then we can plot a path from there.”

Manaal is a $6 TAB chance in the Widden Stakes with Lady Of Camelot a clear $2.20 favourite.

Originally published as Bjorn Baker banking on ‘Kiwi toughness’ with $34 roughie Pick Up The Tab in Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill