Trainer Bjorn Baker declares Father’s Day in peak order ahead of Saturday’s Stayers Cup at Rosehill Gardens
A fit and firing Father’s Day is ready for a career best performance in Saturday’s Stayers Cup at Rosehill Gardens.
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Trainer Bjorn Baker likened Father’s Day’s sensational trackwork to that of an Everest winner on the eve of the $160,000 Stayers Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Father’s Day isn’t blessed with the natural speed to compete in sprint races but he will give his rivals something to chase over the Rosehill staying distance.
Baker said Father’s Day is at his peak after three runs from a spell as the gelding has indicated at trackwork earlier this week.
“For a relatively one-paced horse, he has been galloping like an Everest winner,’’ Baker said.
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“His gallop the other day was the best piece of work he has done and he’s at full fitness now.’’
Father’s Day, the $3.10 TAB Fixed Odds favourite for the Stayers Cup, has improved with each run this campaign including successive seconds over 2000m at Randwick and then at 2400m on the Kensington track.
“I was worried he was a ‘tad’ vulnerable third-up at 2400m on heavy ground last start but I think he is a lot better suited on Saturday,’’ Baker said.
“He drops 8.5kg on his last start and gets in with no weight (52kg), the cut in the track will be to his advantage.
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“We want to be positive early and try to lead. He’s got a high cruising speed and he should be hard to beat.’’
Baker is hoping to land the feature race double at Rosehill with Baby Rider contesting the Listed $200,000 WJ McKell Cup (2000m).
Baby Rider, which has been well beaten in two runs back this preparation, is at $11 in early betting behind Golden Path.s
But Baker is expecting an improved showing from Baby Rider which did win the Listed ATC Cup and ran third in the Group 3 Summer Cup earlier this season.
“Baby Rider is a high class horse on his day,’’ Baker said.
“He has needed a couple of runs to get fit but I was happy with his work on Tuesday. He’s going really well. Zac Lloyd rides, he is down on the minimum and is definitely a hope.’’
Baker is also confident stablemates War Eternal ($11) and Highlights ($12) will be competitive in the TAB Handicap (1500m).
His stables other Rosehill runners are Disneck ($15) in the Precise Air Handicap (1100m), Fairway Star ($51) in the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1400m), Our Anchorage ($61) in the Petaluma Handicap (1800m) and Shalailed ($21) in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m).
At Eagle Farm, Baker is chasing another feature race double with talented sprinter Iowna Merc ($6) in the Group 3 $200,000 WJ Healy Stakes (1200m) and in-form stablemates Iknowastar ($3.30 favourite) and Wategos ($3.90) in the Listed $160,000 Tattersall’s Mile (1600m).
Iowna Merc has been placed twice at stakes level since resuming, finishing fast for third to Opal Ridge in the Luskin Star Stakes at Scone then second to Mnementh in the Bob Charley Stakes at Randwick.
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Bakers has urged punters to keep the faith with Iowna Merc despite some costly recent losses.
“I think Iowna Merc is going really well and a better track (soft 5) will be good for him,’’ Baker said.
“He arrived in Brisbane in great order and with 54kg he is a definite winning chance.
“I’m confident he will run well and hopefully we can then push for an Everest consolation (Sydney Stakes) start in the spring.’’
Iknowastar and Wategos are both racing in top form and come off stakes placings last start.
The frontrunning Iknowastar led for a long way before being collared near the line and finishing a close third to Freedom Rally in the Wayne Wilson Stakes while Wategos is backing up after his third placing to At Witz End in the Eye Liner Stakes at Ipswich last week.
“They are both at the top of their game and rock-hard fit,’’ Baker said.
“Iknowastar will lead, he likes to roll along in his races, and he’s very genuine.
“Wategos is also very consistent and he is going to get the lovely run just in behind Iknowastar. I can’t split them, it would be great if they can give us a stable quinella.’’
Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker declares Father’s Day in peak order ahead of Saturday’s Stayers Cup at Rosehill Gardens
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