Trainer Bjorn Baker will maintain tradition and stay away as Winning Rupert races at Eagle Farm

BJORN Baker is yet to witness Winning Rupert race in any of his four starts and he will keep the trend going on Saturday for fear or jinxing his tilt at a $500,000 UBET Summer Crown Bonus.

BJORN Baker is yet to witness Winning Rupert race in any of his four starts and he will keep the trend going on Saturday for fear or jinxing his tilt at a $500,000 UBET Summer Crown Bonus.

Baker will remain in Sydney, while his wife Andrea, a part-owner in the unbeaten colt, will be at Eagle Farm as he bids to make it five from five.

If Winning Rupert runs up to his $1.15 price tag, his earnings will be just short of $1 million, a remarkable number given he is yet to race outside Queensland.

“He’s raced four times and I haven’t been there for any of them, so I’m kind of thinking I don’t want to jinx him. I do admit to being a bit superstitious like that,” Baker said.

Winning Rupert wins at Eagle Farm.

“We’re in a really fortuitous position. It has worked out quite brilliantly and he’s had the perfect preparation so far. I’m just hoping that continues.

“I love bringing my horses up there. Queensland has been very good to me and it might sound funny, but that’s why I’m so well set up in Sydney now.”

Baker sees no drama with Winning Rupert going beyond 1200m for the first time in tomorrow’s Vo Rogue Plate.

“If he was going to be vulnerable, then it would have been over 1200m first up at Eagle Farm,” Baker said.

The trainer refuses to be drawn on Winning Rupert’s long-term goals, but did reveal he holds him in the highest possible regard.

We have some reasonably good yardsticks to measure him against including (Doomben 10,000 winner) Music Magnate and he’s right up there with him,” he said.

Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker will maintain tradition and stay away as Winning Rupert races at Eagle Farm