‘This is tricky’: Trainer Bjorn Baker sets a task for Magic Millions-bound O’ Ole
Trainer Bjorn Baker concedes talented two-year-old filly O’ Ole isn’t going to have things her own way in her crucial final race before the $3 million Magic Millions at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Bjorn Baker concedes talented two-year-old filly O’ Ole has been “set a task” in her crucial final race before the $3 million Magic Millions at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
O’ Ole, runner-up in the Gimcrack Stakes and a last-start Wyong Magic Millions winner, has topweight of 58kg in the Petaluma Handicap (1100m).
“This is tricky because it is not the perfect lead-up to the Magic Millions in two weeks,’’ Baker conceded.
“She has been set a task with 58kg against the ‘boys’, there are a lot of promising two-year-olds in this race.
“But I do feel she needs this run. Her work on Tuesday morning was excellent and she is a very good filly.’’
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In TAB Fixed Odds betting, O’ Ole was on Friday on the fourth line of betting at $5.50 with Memo rated the $2.60 favourite even though she has finished behind Baker’s filly in her two starts.
Baker is sending five horses to Randwick including another two last start winners, Point And Shoot and Disneck.
Point And Shoot, who finished fast to win at Nowra, drops 5kg to 52kg for the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1100m).
“I think some people might see Point And Shoot’s last start as a country win but it was a much better race than that,’’ Baker said.
“This wasn’t just another Nowra but it was a $100,000 Inglis bonus race and it was good to see him win so well.
“I’ve always had a lot of time for this horse and I think he is right up to this. He gets in with no weight, he has a good fitness base and is well drawn.’’
• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Randwick on Saturday
Point And Shoot was at $15 when TAB Fixed Odds markets were first framed earlier in the week but he has been a dramatic shortener into $4 behind only the $2.40 favourite Mawjood.
Disneck was an impressive fast-finishing winner over the Randwick 1200m course in fast time two weeks ago and is racing over the same course and distance in the James Squire Handicap.
“When Disneck is good, he is absolutely brilliant like he was the other day,’’ Baker said.
“But it is just a matter of whether he can put two good runs together. His work has been great and I do think he is going well.’’
Disneck is into $5 behind Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald’s Eye Of The Fire ($3.50) and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Shangri La Express ($4).
The Baker stable has two other starters at the Randwick Saturday meeting with Passeggiata ($6.50) in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m) and Baby Rider ($26) in the TAB Handicap (2000m).
Baker hinted that the instructions to Passeggiata’s rider Ashley Morgan would be to let the mare use her natural speed.
“We want to let Passeggiata roll along and make it a truly-run race,’’ Baker said.
“Baby Rider has to overcome a wide gate but he is improving and I think he is building to something.’’
Baby Rider takes out the Santa Cup for @BBakerRacing! 🇠pic.twitter.com/PP1rEOnAQ4
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 9, 2023
• Ray & Duff’s race-by-race tips, analysis for Randwick on Saturday
At Eagle Farm, Baker is chasing a feature race double with last start winner Robusto and Raikkonen.
Robusto is coming off his career-best win in the Group 2 The Ingham win and is topweight with 59kg for the $300,000 Magic Millions Buffering (1400m).
Promising three-year-old Raikkonen is chasing a hat-trick of wins in the Group 3 $300,000 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m).
The barrier draw wasn’t kind to the Baker duo, with Robusto starting from the outside gate in the 13-horse field and Raikkonen in gate 14.
“We couldn’t be happier with Robusto,’’ Baker said.
It's Robusto with a robust win in the G2 Ingham for @BBakerRacing and @clarkyhk! 🙌@Darby_Racing | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/jdFPGS302N
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 14, 2024
“Josh Parr rode him on the Tuesday before The Ingham and he rode him again on Tuesday this week and he said the horse is going as well if not better.
“In The Ingham, he jumped about two lengths clear so if he can replicate that from the wide gate he might be able to overcome the barrier.
“It is hard not to like what he has done in a really short space of time for Darby Racing and for my stable. He goes up considerably in weight but is back in grade a fair way.’’
Vauhtia! 🇫🇮 ðŸ
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) December 6, 2024
Raikkonen goes straight past them to win for @SchofieldChad and @BBakerRacing, who has already trained a winner at Mudgee today!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/5LFYLt4suD
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Raikkonen is in his first racing preparation and followed a debut second at Kembla Grange with successive wins at Canterbury and Kensington.
“I’ve always had a lot of time for Raikkonen,’’ Baker said. “He’s a big, strong horse and it was good to see him deliver last start.
“He hasn’t been helped by the gate but he does have plenty of early speed and likes to put himself there. His work has been excellent and I think he is a very good horse.’’
Originally published as ‘This is tricky’: Trainer Bjorn Baker sets a task for Magic Millions-bound O’ Ole
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