Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials

Talented three-year-old filly Winning Proposal will make her debut for Bjorn Baker at Gosford after two eye-catching barrier trials.

Trainer Bjorn Baker is keen to test to the emerging potential of stable recruit Winning Proposal in the $200,000 Thunder Thousand (1000m) at the Gosford stand-alone meeting on Saturday.

Winning Proposal is making her debut for the Baker stable but has impressed in two recent barrier trials, winning a Randwick 740m heat then finishing a close third to Group 1 winner Schwarz in a 1050m trial at the same track.

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The talented three-year-old filly has won two of her 10 races but has been competitive against some of the best fillies in training this season.

“Winning Proposal has just joined our stable and we are still getting to know her but her trials have been great,’’ Baker said.

“I’ve been really happy with how she is coming up this preparation and she’s a filly that handles soft to heavy tracks so she’s in at the right time of the season.

“This is a tough race for her first-up at Gosford but she’s ready to go and I’m looking forward to seeing what she can do on Saturday.’’

• Ray and Duff analyse every race for Gosford stand-alone meet

Winning Proposal continues to firm in TAB betting and is challenging for favouritism at $5.50 behind Rantan at $5.

Baker has a strong team for the Gosford stand-alone meeting including in-form mare Yankee One ($7.50) in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m).

Yankee One, who has won three of her last four starts, has topweight of 61kg but Baker has secured 2kg-claiming apprentice Anna Roper to reduce the mare’s impost.

“I can’t fault Yankee One,’’ Baker said.

“Her work this week has been really good and she couldn’t be going better.’’

Winning Proposal will have her first start for the Bjorn Baker stable at Gosford today. Picture: Bradley Photos

Baker is also expecting Shezanalister ($8.50) to make her presence felt in the Group 3 $250,000 Takeover Target Stakes (1200m).

Shezanalister has been freshened since finishing at the rear of the field in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes won by Briasa a month ago but the mare is back in her right grade at Gosford.

“I’m keen to run her, she’s nice and fresh for this race,’’ Baker said.

“She has drawn a little awkwardly but we know she has a powerful finish.’’

Baker is on weather watch before deciding if he runs Thunderlips ($23 in the Listed $500,000 The Coast (1600m).

The Gosford track was rated a Soft 7 on Friday and with some showers forecast for Saturday, Baker is concerned about a deteriorating track for Thunderlips.

Baker also Raikkonen ($2.70 favourite) for the Gosford closer, and earlier in the program two-year-olds Tiberius ($8.50) and Cold Gin ($14) clashing in the Ortus Financial Handicap (1200m).

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GOSFORD BIG BETS AND MARKET MOVERS

RACE 1: Duck Egg Blue $3.60-$3.50, The Great Houdini $8-$5, Trafalgar Square $6-$5

RACE 2: Sequista $2.30-$2.15, Hidden Achievement $11-$6.50, Tiberius $11-$8.50, Green Spaces $15-$10

RACE 3: Ritzsun $8-$7.50

RACE 4: Engine Room $3.60-$3.30, Pure Alpha $26-$8

RACE 5: Cormac T $6-$5, Sun God $8-$7.50, All Hunky Dory $15-$8, Junebug $26-$10

RACE 6: Rantan $6-$5, Winning Proposal $6-$5.50

RACE 7: Les Vampires $4.60-$4.20, Hezashocka $4.60-$4.40

RACE 8: Know Thyself $4.60-$3.50, Depth Of Character $4.60-$4.40, Mare Of Mt Buller $11-$7

RACE 9: Pereille $8-$7, Warnie $8-$7, Xidaki $11-$8.50, Shezanalister $11-$8.50, Barber $26-$12

RACE 10: Raikkonen $2.80-$2.70, King Of Roseau $6-$4.80, Acappella Sun $15-$8

EARLY QUADDIE

RACE 3: 1, 4, 8, 14

RACE 4: 1, 2, 4, 12

RACE 5: 3, 7, 9, 14

RACE 6: 5, 6, 7

QUADDIE

RACE 7: 2, 3, 9, 12

RACE 8: 2, 4, 8, 10

RACE 9: 8, 9, 15

RACE 10: 4, 5, 6, 10

• ‘On at the right time’: Bayliss bullish about import at Gosford

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PRICE CHECK

PURE ALPHA (race 4) and Junebug (race 5) have been the biggest firmers in TAB betting for the Gosford meeting. The Chris Waller-trained Pure Alpha has been racing in Victoria but returns for Gosford where he likely have suitable soft-heavy tracks conditions. Pure Alpha opened at $26 but is into $8. The Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Junebug, a winner of three of his last five starts, also opened at $26 and is now into $10.

SECTIONAL STARS

JOISELLE (race 3) has been improved by recent racing and indicated she was close to regaining winning form with her fast finishing third to Massira in a TAB Highway. She ran home her final 600m in 34.65sec, the best of the race and one of the fastest of the meeting. Joiselle was one of the few to break 12sec for her closing 200m sectional with a 11.98sec split.

ENGINE ROOM (race 4) was very impressive winning on the Kensington track on Anzac Day. He was back in an awkward spot at the rear of the small field but saved ground on the rail and sprinted a brilliant 200m sectional between the 400m to 200m of 11.34sec to sprint through and takes the lead. He seized control of the race and was cruising to the line but still ran an 11.98sec final 200m to win easily.

Engine Room motors home with ease to make it back-to-back wins! 💨@heysy | @ZacLloydx | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/WV10EGfkF3

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 25, 2025

TRIAL POINTERS

WINNING PROPOSAL (race 6) is a talented filly resuming for a new stable but she has impressed in two recent barrier trials. She dominated her 740m heat at Randwick last month, winning by nearly two lengths, then she took on some top class sprinters including Group 1 winner Schwarz when a close third on a heavy track at Randwick over 1050m last Monday. She is primed to sprint well fresh.

ACCREDITED (race 9) is resuming after an impressive summer campaign where he reeled off three brilliant wins in succession before finishing unplaced in the Southern Cross Stakes. He’s resuming in the Listed Takeover Target Stakes but has shaped well in two Warwick Farm barrier trials over about 800m, finishing seventh under hold when beaten less than two lengths and then a close second to Don’t Doubt Merlin. Accredited is a noted first-up performer and his trials indicate he is going as well as ever.

A strong win for the @PrideRacing trained Accredited! 💪@JoshuaParr8pic.twitter.com/Vtbps9WvWt

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 4, 2025

BEST BET

SEQUISTA (race 2) ran a blinder on debut to finish a close third to top filly Within The Law in the Inglis Nursery back and at her only run since she led for home before finishing fourth to the outstanding Tempted in the Percy Sykes Stakes. Sequista had to do a lot of work first-up and it wasn’t surprising she faded late. Her form does read very well for this race but just needs a touch of luck finding a position from her awkward draw and she will be hard to beat.

VALUE BET

OAKFIELD BADGER (race 1) is a very consistent sprinter who ran on well without threatening the impressive Sunrise at Randwick last start. He gets out to 1200m here and that should suit. He’s double figure odds and will give his backers a great sight.

Originally published as Gosford inside mail: Bjorn Baker recruit Winning Proposal has impressed with barrier trials