Bjorn Baker continues stellar summer run with treble at Randwick

The Bjorn Baker juggernaut continued at Randwick with a treble and the trainer has already surpassed his Sydney winning tally from last season.

Trainer Bjorn Baker had another day out at Randwick with three winners including Shezanalister (top right) and Point And Shoot (bottom right). Pictures: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

Bjorn Baker’s stable juggernaut rolls on, with Shezanalister making a brilliant return to racing at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The five-year-old enhanced her reputation as a first-up specialist with a dominant win in the ATC Connect Sprint (1000m).

Baker finished the day with three winners after Point And Shoot had scored earlier and Highlights later in the program.

That came after a treble at Canterbury on Friday.

Baker has had a sensational summer, with his Randwick double giving the trainer an impressive 30 winners on Sydney racetracks since December 1.

In fact, Baker has now trained 47 wins in Sydney this season – one more than he had for all of the 2023-24 season – and he has vaulted into second in the trainers premiership behind Chris Waller on 82 wins.

🤩 A double to @BBakerRacing as Shezanalister lands some big bets to win at Randwick! pic.twitter.com/u2np4dOTxh

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

“I’m pinching myself at the moment the way the stable is going,’’ Baker said.
“But there are so many different elements to it, and I say it has been years in the building.

“I’ve got a great team around me. I wasn’t going to go here with Shezanalister, but I had a debate with Luke (Hilton, racing manager) and he said we should run her and he got it right.

“When you are going well, you tend to place them well, you tend to get your tactics right, and it was smooth ride by Jason (Collett).’’

Shezanalister ($2.90 favourite), who has now won four of her five first-up starts, stormed home to beat The Black Cloud ($4.20) by nearly a length with World Alliance ($7) a close third.

Collett said Shezanalister “got a good drag into the race” and he was growing in confidence coming into the straight.

“I was a bit wary not to get there too soon as she has a short, sharp sprint,’’ Collett said.

“She looked good condition-wise. She is not a big, gross type but there is improvement to come.’’

Baker aiming higher with Point And Shoot

One of the most improved three-year-olds in Sydney racing, Point And Shoot continued his blazing summer form with another brilliant last-to-first win on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker is considering aiming Point And Shoot at the three-year-old classics after he toyed with his rivals in the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Handicap (1600m) at Royal Randwick.

Despite a slow getaway that left him a conspicuous last on settling, jockey Tim Clark took Point And Shoot ($2.60 favourite) wide on the turn and the horse reeled in the leaders so quickly he was able to score by 2½ lengths from stablemate Puntin ($3.30) with Mare Of Mt Buller ($14) a half-length away third.

Point And Shoot’s victory was Baker’s 29th winner on Sydney racetracks since December 1.

Point And Shoot pulls the trigger on a BIG win at Randwick with @clarkyhk in the saddle for @BBakerRacing! 💪@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/7FxkVoi8LJ

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 8, 2025

“Bjorn said before the race, ‘I am going that well, you can give them a head start and he will still win’,’’ Clark said.

“But this horse has such a good turn of foot, I was confident he could still pick them up. He just keeps winning.’’

Point And Shoot has scored two dominant Randwick wins with brilliant bursts of acceleration from back in the field and has Baker considering aiming him at the Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) on March 8.

“He’s a very, very promising horse,’’ he said.

“His breeder, Mr Harry Perks, was made an Order of Australia recently and he has bred 138 stakes winners. This guy might be his 139th.’’

Puntin had won his three previous starts and, although he lost his unbeaten record, ran bravely for second.

“It’s hard to keep winning, particularly against a promising horse like Point And Show but Puntin keeps improving,’’ Baker said.

Originally published as Bjorn Baker continues stellar summer run with treble at Randwick