Champagne Classic 2016: Bjorn Baker’s Winning Rupert a star but unlikely to advance further at carnival

THE VERDICT: WINNING Rupert dented a few reputations as the Bjorn Baker juggernaut continued its early path of destruction at the Winter Carnival.

Rolling forward: Winning Rupert and Jeff Lloyd salute for Bjorn Baker at Doomben. Picture: Jono Searle

WINNING Rupert dented a few reputations as the Bjorn Baker juggernaut continued its early path of destruction at the Winter Carnival in Saturday’s Champagne Classic at Doomben.

Off the back of a heavily backed winning stakes double at the Gold Coast last week, the Baker disciples unloaded again as Winning Rupert was backed from $7.50 into $5.

The $5 quote looked a gift before the first turn when Jeff Lloyd found himself outside the unexpected leader Dreams Aplenty, as easing favourite Tiyatrolani eased in behind them and the leaders slowed to a pedestrian 36 seconds for their first 600m.

Baker’s stable representative Jack Bruce said it was unlikely Winning Rupert would advance further into the carnival, even though it was “very tempting”.

“He’s going to be a lovely three-year-old in the spring,” Bruce said.

Fast-finishing Souchez and third-placed Attention were the two big market movers from a future Winter Carnival perspective.

“Look out when he gets to 1400-1600m,” jockey Jason Collett said of Souchez. “He got a bit of interference near the start and probably lost half a length.

“That was a big thing because we ended up an extra pair back when the leader got crossed.”

Blake Shinn said he expected there to be a lot more pressure and with that in mind, his mount Attention turned in a tidy effort.

“The one we thought would apply pressure (Tiyatrolani) handed up the lead and just gave it to the winner, so we didn’t get the tempo we expected,” Shinn said.

“He just wants 1400m now. It’s been a little while since he raced in Sydney and he will come on from that.”

Winning Rupert landed some decent bets when he took out the Champagne Classic. Picture: AAP

Queensland’s most-fancied JJ Atkins hope going into the race was Nikitas, who settled back and never looked a winning hope.

Trainer Steve O’Dea said Candika did as much as she could under the circumstances and is comfortable she’s on target to give the longer races a big shake.

“We were dictated by the barrier. If she draws an alley we can sit a lot closer,” he said.

Jockey Michael Cahill said the Snitzel colt is simply looking for more ground now and felt he wasn’t disappointing.

“He couldn’t go with those horses and he did his best work in the last 200m. It felt a better effort being on his back than it probably looked on the screen,” Cahill said.

Tiyatrolani’s rider Tegan Harrison said she was being taken into the fence by Dreams Aplenty and made the decision to ease.

Part-owner Scott McAlpine indicated Tiyatrolani was now likely to spell.

Malaguerra (second right) hits the front in the BTC Cup from (from left) Artlee, Delectation, Two Blue and Dothraki. Picture: Jono Searle

Malaguerra’s mission just became tougher

THE VERDICT

MALAGUERRA tightened in Stradbroke markets off the back of his BTC Cup win, but the irony is that he’s made his task to win the $1.5 million sprint significantly more difficult by winning on Saturday.

With weights yet to be released, Malaguerra would have cost himself at least a kilogram or two. The Freedman stable on Saturday indicated he would bypass the 10,000 and go straight into the Stradbroke, as he’s a very effective fresh horse. Thorn Park is the only horse to complete the same double.

There were a host of good runs behind the winner, with perhaps Artlee the one who looks most suited going to 1400m on the bigger track.

Fell Swoop was brave. He had no luck from the wide gate.

THE STING

UBET somehow claimed a winning result on the Rough Habit, despite Mackintosh being the biggest firmer of the week. Punters were in cruise control a long way from home.

Bookies were spared a big payout on Jumbo Prince when he had to split the prize with Rudy. Winning Rupert continued the deadly nature of plunges associated with the Bjorn Baker stable.

POSITION VACANT

WITH the new Queensland Racing Integrity Commission to kick off on July 1, the Racing Disciplinary Board will be abolished, to be replaced by an internal review system for licensees wanting to appeal against a stewards’ ruling.

New Integrity Commissioner Ross Barnett said an independent person would be appointed to review decisions.

“I intend to appoint someone who is completely outside the commission who has appropriate industry experience, but no links to anybody in the commission. Hopefully it gives the industry confidence the review is being done by someone who can make an objective decision on the facts.”

The position will be advertised shortly. A job for the retired Ray Murrihy perhaps?

CUP REVENGE

SIR John Hawkwood was a good thing beaten behind Real Love. Jockey Blake Spriggs told trainer David Vandyke he was in trouble from the 700m, tracking two runners he knew wouldn’t carry him into the race.

“I had to wait and he was very unlucky,” Spriggs said.

Vandyke confirmed Sir John Hawkwood would now wait four weeks and go straight into the Brisbane Cup. “He goes well fresh, irrespective of what distance it is,” he said.

FLYING START

DAN Meagher made the perfect start to his training career in Singapore on Friday night, winning with Lim’s Action at the first meeting he had runners.

DOUBLE STEEL

KRIS Lees unleashed juvenile Blazing Steel for an impressive debut win at Scone on Friday. It doesn’t seem that long ago Ronny Conquest had an excitement machine by the same name.

The 1990s Blazing Steel was a heart in your mouth backmarker who won on debut in January 1995 and went on to win nine races and notch several Group 1 placings.

Stradbroke bound Malaguerra delivers a powerful performance in the feature event. Picture Jono Searle

Originally published as Champagne Classic 2016: Bjorn Baker’s Winning Rupert a star but unlikely to advance further at carnival