Trainer Bjorn Baker already an Imposing figure in Queensland as winners roll in for newcomer
THE emerging Bjorn Baker juggernaut hit full steam when his astonishing recent record in Queensland continued with a pair of Gold Coast winners.
THE emerging Bjorn Baker juggernaut hit full steam when his astonishing recent record in Queensland continued with a pair of Gold Coast winners.
The Sydney trainer has never won a Group 1 in Queensland but it only looks a matter of time given he is in hot form, including five winners from his last seven Queensland starters.
Imposing Lass zoomed into contention for the Queensland Oaks when she stacked them up to win the Gold Coast Bracelet, with Baker insisting there was much more in her tank.
To make a good day great, Coolring was sensationally backed ($8-$5) in the Prime Minister’s Cup and also led from start to finish.
Baker was in Sydney at the engagement party of a family member but there were plenty of cold beers close at hand to celebrate his big day on the coast.
“I don’t drink that XXXX beer you drink in Queensland, but I’d be happy to have a XXXX tonight after the day I have had,’’ Baker said.
“To be honest I had a pretty miserable winter up there last year but I am certainly making up for that now.
“I’ve been having a few beers in a garage at an engagement party and really enjoying cheering my Queensland winners home.’’
The beaten brigade may be confident they will be able to turn the tables on Imposing Lass in the Queensland Oaks, but Baker insisted there was more to come from the impressive winner.
Imposing Lass led in the 1800m Gold Coast Bracelet before kicking strongly to fend off a strong challenge from second-paced Self Esteem.
It means it all systems go on a path towards the Queensland Oaks, with Baker excited at the prospects of winning his first Group 1 in Queensland.
Dawnie Perfect, Kebede and Queen Of The Wands all ran on well but Baker is full of confidence heading into a run in The Roses before the big mission of the Oaks.
“I can promise you there is more to come for Imposing Lass,’’ Baker said.
“She is a very game horse who makes her own luck out in front.
‘’But I can assure you she is not one-dimensional and she can definitely take a sit in her races if we want her to.
“I think she was very impressive today, considering she had two pretty soft wins before this and she was jumping to 1800m.
“You never quite know whether she will get the distance of the Oaks but she is certainly bred to stay and I can’t see any reason why she wouldn’t.’’
Imposing Lass made it four wins from five starts and was aided by a good ride from Jason Collett who always thought he would be able to hold off Self Esteem.
Self Esteem’s jockey Blake Shinn was at one stage convinced he was on the winner as it became a two-horse war in the straight.
“At the 300m I knew it was going to be a race in two and I must admit I thought I had the winner covered, but she turned in a courageous effort to hold me off,” Shinn said.
Robbie Fradd said he had to niggle at Dawnie Perfect the whole way “otherwise she would just get too far back” and felt it was a very nice effort looking toward the Oaks.
Both Jim Byrne (Kebede) and Michael Cahill (Queen Of The Wands) also indicated their mounts were now looking for further.
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Punters know Baker’s cooking up storm
BJORN Baker didn’t start out confident Coolring would win a Stakes race, but the punters who backed him off the map at the Gold Coast had other ideas.
Coolring made it a pair of coast winners for the popular Sydney trainer as plenty of cash was ripped out of the bags of bookies around Australia.
UBET reported Coolring was a massive go in the hour before the Prime Minister’s Cup, crunched from $8 into $5.
The result was never in doubt as Coolring led and kicked on down the straight to show his rivals a clean set of hooves.
The punters who backed him when he ran third in the Weetwood in Toowoomba last month must have buttered up again.
“To be honest, I never thought he would have got to this level,’’ Baker said.
“He showed a little bit early on but not that much. But he has kept improving and raising the bar.
“I have hardly done anything with him during the week, apart from plenty of swimming.’’
Baker is now undecided whether to leave Coolring in Queensland, where he would need another win to push up his rating for a throw at the stumps in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Coolring’s jockey Jeff Lloyd felt the race was won at the start when the grey gelding zoomed out of the barriers.
“He won the race in the first half a furlong,’’ Lloyd said.
“He got across easy and with no weight on his back he kept up a good pace and fought on well.
“(Second-placed) Worthy Cause got to me quick but I went for the whip and there was plenty of fight left in him.’’
Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker already an Imposing figure in Queensland as winners roll in for newcomer
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