Bjorn Baker disappointed Queensland Oaks rematch between Renaissance Woman and Fireburn won’t happen

Bjorn Baker has the new favourite in the Queensland Oaks but says he wanted a rematch with Gary Portelli and Fireburn.

Bjorn Baker's Renaissance Woman is the favourite for The Oaks following Fireburn’s scratching. Picture: Grant Peters — Trackside Photography.

Bjorn Baker has gone into bat for his mate and Warwick Farm training colleague Gary Portelli, saying scratching Group 1 Queensland Oaks favourite Fireburn takes away from the contest.

While Fireburn’s controversial vet scratching on Thursday puts Baker in pole position to win the $700,000 feature with Renaissance Woman, he said he was looking forward to locking horns with Portelli again following their one-two battle in The Roses a fortnight ago.

Without commenting on the case specifically, Baker said Portelli was an expert horseman and backed in his judgment with the Golden Slipper winner.

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Renaissance Woman was well supported with punters following Tuesday’s barrier draw and has shortened even further into $3.60 following the scratching of Fireburn.

“It’s not the way you want to win a race, obviously it helps our cause but I feel for Gary and the team,” Baker said.

“I have a love-hate relationship with Gary but I back his judgment.

“I train with Gary and see him every day, I back his judgment and I know he sees his horses every day, he is in the best position to know her.

“Not commenting on this case specifically, but often we are getting judged off a one-off viewing, when the horse has been remarkably sound for her career.

“It’s a pity one of the superstars of the turf won’t be there on the day.

“There’s nothing more that I wanted than a rematch with Gary on Saturday. It will take something out of the race.”

Bjorn Baker is looking to win his second Group 1 in Queensland. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Even without Fireburn, Baker said the Oaks was no walkover for Renaissance Woman, saying she will have to overcome a big field of runners to grab her first Group 1.

Aided by an inside draw, Baker believes his filly is in a better place this preparation than the spring, where she ran out of petrol tickets heading into the VRC Oaks.

“It’s not an easy race, even with Fireburn out we will need luck because if we’re not midfield, we will be behind midfield,” he said.

“She looks better than she did at the end of her last preparation going into the (VRC) Oaks, in hindsight, she had probably had enough, where I think if anything, she is still on the way up this time.”

Baker also gave a good push for speedster Malkovich in the Listed Lighting Handicap (1000m), declaring it his best winning chance on the day.

“He has a good gate here, Josh Parr back on and I think 1000m will really suit, he should be really hard to beat so I think he is great odds ($6),” he said.

“He had excuses last time, but he is spot on this time.”

TAB spokesman Hamish Ferguson said it had been one-way traffic for Renaissance Woman since Thursday afternoon.

“The three-year-old filly is by far the best backed runner in the race with close to 25 per cent of the hold as of Friday morning,” he said.

“She tops the market ahead of Affaire A Survive and Amokura who are the next best in betting with 13 and 8 per cent of the hold respectively.”

Originally published as Bjorn Baker disappointed Queensland Oaks rematch between Renaissance Woman and Fireburn won’t happen