Bjorn Baker ready to repeat Magic Millions run
Bjorn Baker rarely fails to land a winner at the Gold Coast and he’s launching another Queensland raid over the next two weekends.
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Bjorn Baker returned to his happy hunting ground on the Gold Coast on Thursday, preparing to plunder more Magic Millions riches over the next two Saturdays.
The trainer’s first runner on the Coast was Unencumbered, who won the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic in 2014.
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Last year the stable landed two of the $1 million races on the program with Egyptian Symbol (Fillies and Mares) and Redouble (Cup).
In between, Baker has won stakes races on Hollindale Stakes day with Champagne Cuddles, Coolring and Imposing Lass.
His MM campaign begins a week earlier this year, with Fun Fact and Bobby Dee contesting The Wave and Edison seemingly well placed in the $250,000 Rising Stars Plate (Colts and Gelding) at the Gold Coast tomorrow.
All three could potentially back up next week, where Baker will have classy mare Champagne Cuddles (to be ridden by Nash Rawiller) in the MM Snippets, Redouble (Craig Williams) back to defend his Cup crown, Irithea in the F&M and Impavido in the Trophy.
Hinchbeast, currently 19th in order of entry for the 2YO Classic, could also make the trip next week if he is successful or runs well in Sydney tomorrow.
“He’s handling everything well, he still looks good and you’re only two once, so it’s a hard race to pass up,” Baker said.
Champagne Cuddles has not raced since she was a one- and-a-quarter lengths fifth to Pierata in The Redzel on November 2 and before that a very close second in the Sydney Stakes, but has had two barrier trials in readiness for her trip to the Coast.
“She’s very well,” Baker said.
“In the last year she’s been in some very strong races.
“She’s only had the one start at the Gold Coast and won the Guineas in track record time, so we’re pretty comfortable coming back here.”
Fun Fact will back up next week in the Trophy provided he runs well in The Wave, while Bobby Dee has to win to earn a wildcard.
“Bobby Dee is going well,’’ Baker said.
“His run last week at Randwick was better than what it looks because he was caught deep.
“He has a good gate this time, which is a good positive change.
“Fun Fact was just a victim of circumstances last time.
“We will look to be positive out of the gates coming back to 1800m and hopefully we have a bit of luck with him.”
Edison takes on older horses tomorrow and could back up into the Guineas next week.
“He has always promised a bit and I have had a good opinion of him,” Baker said.
“The good gate offsets the drop back to 1300m and we will look to be positive on him.
“(Jockey) Robbie Fradd is the man for the job.”
RICH RACE LURES TEAM CORSTENS
An alert from Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch is the reason consistent Victorian sprinter Morrissy finds himself on the Gold Coast on Saturday, giving Troy and Leon Corstens a rare Queensland runner.
The $250,000 Rising Stars is the richest Class 4 event in the country and co-trainer Troy Corstens says if Morrissy runs to expectations he may back up to have a crack at a $1 million race next weekend.
Morrissy is the highest-rated runner in Saturday’s field and gets in nicely under the set weight conditions.
“I just thought it was a really nice race for him,” Corstens said.
“It’s a fantastic concept.
“Barry Bowditch put us on to the race three or four months ago and said ‘Morrissy would be a terrific horse for it’.
“He’s settled in perfectly.
“The opposite way won’t be an issue because he’s been this way quite a few times and handles it quite well.
“He probably hit the front a bit early last time (when a close third at Flemington).
“He’s a little bit better if he can chase, but he still fought back quite well.”
Morrissy is nominated for both the Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) and Cup (1400m) next week.
Corstens trains in partnership with his father Leon and together they have enjoyed Group 1 success with Awesome Rock and Montoya’s Secret.
Their lone winner from only 10 runners in Queensland together is Girls Got Spirit, who won a $16,000 Benchmark 65 at the Coast in 2018.
Leon will join Troy on the Gold Coast next week as part of the family’s annual pilgrimage to the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
“Dad loves coming up here,” Troy said.
“Every year he gets to spend his birthday (January 10) here and the auctioneers always give him a shout out at the sales. He gets embarrassed but I love it.”
Corstens Sr worked with Bart Cummings for 25 years during a golden period where he was associated with the likes of Let’s Elope, Shaftesbury Avenue and Kingston Rule, before taking out his own licence in 1994.
“I asked him if he wanted to retire and he said the day he retires will be the day he dies,” Troy said.
“Guys like dad love what they do, it’s a passion not a job.”
The Corstens partnership made the perfect start to the new year with Goldifox winning at Flemington on Wednesday.
“We’re going OK,” Troy said.
“It was nice to kick off the new year with a winner and we have a good young team coming through.’’
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