Bjorn Baker eyes second Dark Jewel Classic with Bring The Ransom at Scone stand-alone meeting Saturday

Bring The Ransom will be racing for a slice of history when she aims up for her defence of the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone on Saturday.

Bring The Ransom returns to Scone this weekend.

TRAINER Bjorn Baker believes Bring The Ransom can create her own piece of racing history and become the first dual winner of the Group 3 $200,000 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) at the Scone stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Racing NSW handicappers released the Dark Jewel weights late on Monday with Bring The Ransom given 56kg, a rise of 2kg on what she carried successfully 12 months ago.

Expat is topweight with 59kg.

But Bring The Ransom hasn’t won a race since her boilover win at odds of $51 in the feature Scone mares race last year. In fact, she has missed a placing in all six subsequent starts including her seventh in the Hawkesbury Crown last month.

But Baker is adamant the mare is going well enough to cause another Scone upset.

“Bring The Ransom is going better than her form reads, she’s just had no luck this preparation,’’ Baker said.

“But she will be back on a firmer track at Scone which is what she needs. She’s going well.’’

Baker also has the brilliant Malkovich primed for the Listed $160,000 Ortensia Stakes (1100m).

Scone is set for a bumper two-day carnival this Friday and Saturday

Malkovich goes to Scone after his impressive first-up win in the Hawkesbury Rush in near track record time.

“I couldn’t be happier with Malkovich, he’s flying,’’ Baker said. “He’s capable of running very fast times so he’s also going to appreciate a firm track.’’

Bring The Ransom and Malkovich are among a bumper entry of 271 for the Scone stand-alone meeting.

The Dark Jewel Classic has attracted 25 nominations, there are 22 entered for the Listed $160,000 Luskin Stakes Stakes, 15 for the Ortensia Stakes, while the Denise’s Joy Stakes and Woodland Stakes, both Listed $160,000 races, have 24 and 18 nominations.

Scone’s Friday meeting has also attracted a huge entry with 204 nominations including 40 entries for the Listed $200,000 Scone Cup (1600m).

Steve Keene, the Scone Race Club chief executive, said he was “delighted with the quality and quantity” of entries for the two-day carnival.

“We have five stakes races and a strong metropolitan feel for the Saturday stand-alone meeting,’’ Keene said.

“But there is a number of local trainers who are in the big Saturday races with live chances including Luke Pepper with his brilliant filly Opal Ridge, Brett Cavanough’s unbeaten Once Again My Girl is super quick, and there is Banju for Lyle Chandler in the Scone Cup on Friday.

“It’s great the local trainers can mix it with the ‘big boys’, they are holding their own which is exciting for the club and for Scone.’’

Originally published as Bjorn Baker eyes second Dark Jewel Classic with Bring The Ransom at Scone stand-alone meeting Saturday