Bjorn Baker duo Iknowastar and Passeggiata to give rivals something to catch at Royal Randwick

Trainer Bjorn Baker will be giving Rachel King, the rider of Iknowastar and Passeggiata, a licence to thrill on the “catch-me-if-you-can” front-runners at Randwick on Saturday.

Passeggiata is one of the fastest horses in Sydney. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Iknowastar and Passeggiata will be doing their very own Pride Of Jenni impersonations when they race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker will be giving Rachel King, the rider of Iknowastar and Passeggiata, a licence to thrill on the “catch-me-if-you-can” front-runners.

The consistent Iknowastar is attempting to break a frustrating sequence of near-misses this campaign when he contests the Fujitsu Airstage Handicap (1600m).

Passeggiata surprisingly didn’t lead early at Newcastle when she was beaten first-up but the speedy mare will revert to her usual racing pattern in the Taylor Construction Handicap (1000m).

“The plan is to let Iknowastar and Passeggiata run – that’s how they race at their best,’’ Baker said.

“Iknowastar is very game, he keeps going all the way to the line. With Passeggiata, we want to be positive and lead on her, she’s very fast.

“When you have these natural leaders, they can be hard to catch because those horses chasing them have to put into the race at some point. If they are going quick enough up front and running time, it can become mathematically very difficult to catch the leader.’’

*‘Leave me right out of Kovalica’: Doubts on Doomben Cup favourite

Waterford runs down Iknowastar in the Vale Lonhro Hcp, with @nashhot riding a double!@[e-mail]/tCrgTBjDF4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) April 27, 2024

It was Peter Moody of Black Caviar fame who famously said “let fast horses be fast” and there are few more exciting sights in horse racing than a dashing front-runner establishing a big lead mid-race then trying to defy their chasing rivals.

Pride Of Jenni did just that to an elite field with her spectacular win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m at Randwick last month.

She put a whole new meaning to “tearaway leader” when opening up a margin of more than 30 lengths on her rivals mid-race. Understandably, the Ciaron Maher-trained mare did get tired in the last 200m but was still six-and-a-half lengths in front on the line.

“It was a phenomenal effort by Pride Of Jenni, no doubt she’s an extremely good horse,’’ Baker said.

“When you are chasing a horse like her, it’s always a bit of a balancing act for the jockeys riding other horses in the race.

“You want to give your horse every chance but not necessarily get them out of their comfort zone and Pride Of Jenni did get them chasing a long way out which was the difference.’’

Pride Of Jenni’s win was one of greatest front-running efforts ever seen on an Australian racecourse – and there has been some memorable ones.

*Derby hope shows ‘that one quality a lot of those horses won’t have’

Pride Of Jenni produced a stunning frontrunning effort to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Might And Power led all the way to win the 1997 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups double then dominated and demoralized his rivals in the 1998 Queen Elizabeth Stakes winning more than 10 lengths.

Vo Rogue was a magnificent front-runner who won 26 races including six at Group 1 level, most notably his back-to-back Australian Cups in 1989-90.

Phar Lap, the greatest of them all, won the 1930 AJC Plate over two-and-a-quarter miles (a3600m) eased down by 10 lengths after leading by as much as three-quarters of a furlong (150m) mid-race.

In jumps racing, leaders can open up big margins like the day Australian champion Crisp led the 1973 English Grand National field by more than 30 lengths mid-race.

Crisp, courageously shouldering a massive 76kg, still led by 15 lengths at the final fence but in an unforgettable finish he was caught in the final two strides by another great jumper, Red Rum, who was carrying 10kg less weight.

Red Rum won another two Grand Nationals at Aintree – and ran second in two other renewals of the race – so how unlucky was Crisp?

Iknowastar and Passeggiata are not in the same league as these champions but their front-running efforts will be compelling to watch at Randwick on Saturday.

Baker said Iknowastar is in peak form after three minor placings from as many starts this campaign including his third to Magnaspin in The Coast at Newcastle two weeks ago.

*Sweeney farewelled by SA racing community at memorial service

iknowastar is in peak form this preparation and is ready to run well again.

“I always look forward to Iknowastar’s races and I thought he went enormous last start,’’ Baker said. “He led for a long way, gave a good kick on the turn and tried really hard in the straight.

“It was a very heavy track at Newcastle and he’s much better on firmer going. Hopefully, that will be the case at Randwick on Saturday.’’

The Randwick course proper was rated a soft 6 late on Thursday with the likelihood of an upgrade on raceday.

The drier track will also suit Passeggiata who resumed at the Newcastle stand-alone meeting and ran second behind Kote over 900m.

* Leading QLD Derby chance to be sold after his Group 1 tilt

Passeggiata was slow away at Newcastle and for the first time in her seven-race career, she did not lead her rivals into the straight.

“She jumped a little awkwardly the other day and if you are in a 900m race, it is always hard to lead when you give away a little bit of ground at the start,’’ Baker said.

“The Randwick 1000m will be better for her as will the prospect of a drier track.

“I still think her first-up run was very good and perhaps some people have forgotten how long that mare had off before Newcastle. I’m confident she can bounce back on Saturday – she will be hard to catch.’’

Baker is also saddling up English import Farnborough in the PF Civil Handicap (2400m) and Father’s Day, in the PF Civil Equipment Handicap (2000m). Both are sons of super sire Galileo and began their race careers in Ireland before being purchased by syndicator Scott Darby of Darby Racing.

“Darby Racing do a phenomenal job in finding these overseas horses,’’ Baker said.

“Farnborough is in his first Australian preparation and it will be interesting to see what he does at 2400m. We are still learning about this horse and he is going to improve with racing.

“Father’s Day showed some really good form last preparation and he has come on from his first-up run. His work last Saturday was excellent, he’s going well.’’

*VRC breaks 155-year tradition, moving Melbourne Cup qualifier

Trainer Bjorn Baker could have a big day out at Royal Randwick. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Baker is also represented by War Eternal and Cinque Torri clashing in the Supporterhub Handicap (1400m).

“War Eternal is the pick of my two,’’ Baker said. “He was very good first-up after a long lay-off and he’s certainly been improved by the run.’’

Baker is hoping to build on his 40 city wins so far this season which has him ranked fifth on the Sydney trainer premiership.

The Warwick Farm-based trainer has prepared the winners of $11.3 million including Group 1 successes with Overpass (Winterbottom Stakes) and Ozzmosis (Coolmore Stud Stakes), plus a second successive win in The Quokka with Overpass.

With more than two months of the season remaining, Baker should break his stable’s best prizemoney haul of $11.7 million set in 2022-23.

“This has been a really good season for our stable,’’ Baker said.

“We will probably be a bit quieter over the winter months but we have some really nice young horses coming through so I’m really looking forward to next season.’’

Originally published as Bjorn Baker duo Iknowastar and Passeggiata to give rivals something to catch at Royal Randwick