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Trainer Bjorn Baker cooking up an upset in 2024 Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill

Trainer Bjorn Baker believes the improving Iknowastar can overcome his first-up hoodoo but warned punters to write off Belclare at their peril in the feature race at Rosehill on Saturday.

Ray Thomas
6 min read
October 11, 2024 - 5:30PM
Hold All Tickets - Punters (Episode 7) 12-10-24

Trainer Bjorn Baker believes the improving Iknowastar can overcome his first-up hoodoo before warning to write off Belclare at your peril.

Baker gave a confident push for both horses ahead of their clash in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Iknowastar has managed only one placing in five previous first-up attempts but he is absolutely flying in his preparation for his return to racing, as evidenced by his runaway Warwick Farm barrier trial win when he put a margin of more than 11 lengths on his chasing rivals two weeks ago.

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“I concede his first-up record isn’t flash but Iknowastar is going super and is forward enough to run well,’’ Baker said.

“He’s been trialling really well and the plan was to go to the Alan Brown and then the Five Diamonds Prelude.

“I’m looking forward to him returning, I feel he is going better than ever, and he always makes his races exciting to watch.

“He likes to take the race by the scruff of the neck early and then its up to his rivals to try and catch him.’’

• EXPERT TIPS: James Molony’s race-by-race tips and analysis for Rosehill on Saturday

Iknowastar seems at good each way odds of $12 given Baker’s level of confidence but the trainer also maintains Belclare is a much better chance than her current price of $21 suggests.

Baker said Belclare, a Group 1 winner in New Zealand, had legitimate excuses when she resumed last month’s Sheraco Stakes when her saddle slipped, placing jockey Rachel King at a disadvantage, as the mare led at a frenetic tempo before fading for fifth behind Sunshine In Paris.

“I thought she ran really well in the Sheraco, her run was much better than she was given credit for,’’ Baker said.

“She’s had four weeks between runs, trialled beautifully last week, I gave her a good gallop Tuesday morning and she looks fantastic, she’s a high class mare.

“We have a nice gate, she should be able to put herself there comfortably, get into her comfort zone and her form is best at 1400m.’’

• Ray & Duff’s Rosehill tips, analysis: Duff ready to feast at Snack Bar

Baker also has Group 1-winning stayer Arapaho resuming in the Alan Brown Stakes and although 1400m is short of his best, the trainer is expecting a competitive comeback run.

“Arapaho is coming up really well,’’ Baker enthused.

“No doubt 1400m is on the short side and he has to carry plenty of weight but we are thrilled with how he is going.

“If he runs well on Saturday and recovers quickly then we will look at the Craven Plate and possibly get him to Melbourne for the back end of the carnival.’’

Baker’s Robusto is fifth emergency for the Alan Brown Stakes but the trainer is resigned to the gelding missing a start.

“Robusto will be flat out getting a run and if he doesn’t, then we might trial next week and aim at the Five Diamonds Prelude,’’ the trainer said.

Baker also has speedy mare Passeggiata in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) but her wide barrier (15) is concerning.

• MARKET MOVERS: Two roughies well-backed at Rosehill for Saturday

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GODOLPHIN’S James Cummings has switched the consistent Pericles back to Sydney for the Hill Stakes.

Pericles has been racing in Melbourne this spring where he won the So You Think Stakes and ran a last start third to Buckaroo in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.

“I thought the opposition made him work early and it was a very testing race so he was brave to still be sticking on late,’’ Cummings said of Pericles’ last start effort.

“He stayed on well at 1800m, stayed on better than most of the field, having been vulnerable from up on top of the pace.

“The quinella (Buckaroo and Huetor) in the race came from last and second-last in the run.

“It’s amazing, Pericles came back from Melbourne in unbelievably good condition and we are still building towards his peak.”

• Who was better … Octagonal or Lonhro? Trainer John Hawkes reveals his pick

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BROADSIDING, the star of the Cummings stable, is chasing a sixth consecutive win and his fourth at Group 1 level in the $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m).

TAB Fixed Odds has taken a string of big bets from confident punters on Broadsiding who is a firm $1.50 favourite after bets of $9500 at $1.55, $6000 at $1.55, $2675 at $1.55 and multiple $2000 at $1.55.

If Broadsiding wins the Caulfield Guineas, he will be the hottest favourite to win the three-year-old classic this century after The Autumn Sun scored at $1.70 in 2018.

• Jenni, Brightside battles steel Antino for Toorak Handicap

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CHAMPION trainer Peter Snowden is chasing a fifth win in the Group 2 $300,000 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) in eight years when he saddles up High Octane in the Rosehill three-year-old spring feature.

High Octane is rated at $13 in latest betting but he’s a talented colt who impressed beating The Kosciuszko hopeful Compelling Truth in a Rosehill barrier trial a week ago.

Snowden has won the Roman Consul previously with King’s Gambit (2023), Wild Ruler (2020), Cosmic Force (2019) and Russian Revolution (2016).

• Tips from the big bookies: Hill Stakes Day at Rosehill, Caulfield Guineas Day

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OLENTIA can enhance her reputation as a first-up specialist in the Group 3 $250,000 The Nivison (1200m).

The Chris Waller-trained Olentia is “lethal” fresh with three wins and a second placing in four first-up attempts.

Her only loss when resuming came in the Group 3 Triscay Stakes last autumn when she was desperately unlucky behind Semana.

• Hayes confident Here To Shock can strike in Alan Brown Stakes

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IF BARRIER trial form is anything to go by, Godolphin’s lightly-raced Admitted looks the “good thing” of the day when he resumes in a class 1 Kembla Grange race over 1000m on Saturday.

Admitted showed early season promise as a two-year-old but hasn’t raced for nearly 11 months but trainer James Cummings has given the sprinter three barrier trials to prepare for his comeback.

In the most recent trial at Rosehill last week, Admitted led throughout and comfortably held at bay Group 1 winner and Everest hopeful Stefi Magnetica!

Meanwhile, jockeys Norm Munsie and Harold Light, and trainer Kevin Robinson, have been inducted into the Illawarra Turf Club’s Hall of Fame.

Munsie, Light and Robinson have races named in their honour at the Kembla Grange meeting, a track where all three men enjoyed so much success.

Media identity Glenn Munsie and his mother, Anne, are among the special guests at the ITC’s Hall of Fame function.

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COOLMORE’S stallion sensation Wootton Bassett has sired the highest price for a yearling colt in the world this year.

At England’s prestigious Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, the Wootton Bassett colt sold for a European record of 4.3 million guineas, which equates to $A9.5 million. He was purchased by Kia Joorabchian’s Amo Racing with Coolmore’s MV Magnier the underbidder.

This falls only just short of the Pierro-Winx filly Coolmore sold at the Inglis Easter Sale earlier this year for a staggering $10 million, a world record for a yearling filly.

Wootton Bassett is standing at Coolmore’s Hunter Valley property this spring.

• Group 1 tips: Racenet, Punters experts give their top 3 for Caulfield Guineas, Might And Power Stakes, Toorak Handicap

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5 YEARS AGO
Verry Elleegant underlined her emerging champion qualities with a strong win over Samadoubt in the Hill Stakes. Shadow Hero, ridden by Josh Parr, raced away to beat Subedar by more than three lengths in the Gloaming Stakes, and Cosmic Force won the Roman Consul Stakes. Super Seth wore down Alligator Blood in a thrilling finish to the Caulfield Guineas. International raider Cape Of Good Hope won the Might And Power (then Caulfield) Stakes and the Matthew Smith-trained Fierce Impact on the Toorak Handicap.

10 YEARS AGO
The talented colt Brazen Beau also, trained by Chris Waller, underlined his Group 1 potential with a dominant win in the Roman Consul Stakes. Brazen Beau’s stablemate Junoob upset Criterion in the Hill Stakes and Sweynesse maintained his unbeaten record scoring his fourth win with an impressive effort in the Gloaming Stakes. Shooting To Win ran down hot favourite Rich Enuff to win the Caulfield Guineas. Fawkner finished fast to win the Caulfield Stakes and Trust In A Gust followed his Rupert Clarke Stakes win by claiming another Group 1 in the Toorak Handicap.

20 YEARS AGO
Boom colt Fastnet Rock easily defeat Charge Forward in a classy renewal of the Roman Consul Stakes. Danny Beasley rode an inspired race on Natural Blitz to defeat Vouvray in the Hill Stakes. Al Maher, ridden by Hall of Famer Jim Cassidy, scored a tough win over Savabeel and Outback Prince in a high quality renewal of the Gloaming Stakes. Econsul, the $41 outsider ridden by Chris Munce, won the Caulfield Guineas. Mummify was back to winning form in the Caulfield Stakes and Regal Roller’s outstanding spring continued with his Toorak Handicap win coming after successive wins in the Liston Stakes, Memsie Stakes and Rupert Clarke Stakes.

Originally published as Trainer Bjorn Baker cooking up an upset in 2024 Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill

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