Baker in the running on and off the track
By Chris Roots
Bjorn Baker can go from marathon man to punter’s pal at Newcastle on Saturday.
The Warwick Farm trainer ran the Sydney half-marathon last Sunday in preparation for a marathon later in the year as he starts to get back into racing shape himself.
Iknowastar takes out the Dubbo Cup in track record time last year.Credit: Janian McMillan
“I have always liked to run and just thought I would set myself a couple of challenges,” Baker said. “The time wasn’t that good. I wanted to break two hours and didn’t wear a watch but did it by a couple of seconds. It has got me back into training, and a full marathon would be the goal now.”
Baker will put together a training plan to complement his job of preparing equine athletes. His stable is firing at present. Star Act made it 11 winners from Baker’s past 50 runners on Wednesday at Warwick Farm, and it is a roll that could continue at Newcastle on Saturday.
He will saddle up the well-fancied Stefi Magnetica in the Takeover Target Stakes and the returning Passeggiata in the benchmark 78, and free-going frontrunner Iknowastar will take some catching in The Coast.
Iknowastar’s form suggests that a soft track would not be in his favour, but Baker has liked what he has seen in the mornings since the four-year-old was run down by Waterford a couple of weeks ago.
“He worked fantastic the other morning on the wet track, but you look his form and the wet track has to be a worry,” Baker admitted of Iknowastar, which has only won once in six wet-track starts.
“This race was always on the agenda because the smaller track [at Gosford] will suit his style, and I think if he can just get a soft section he will be very hard to run down.
“He has a great record at the mile [winning five of six attempts] and he is just reaching his peak. Rachel [King] gets on very well with him, and I’m sure she will get it right.”
Iknowastar is the $4.80 second pick in betting behind Tavi Time, which is a well-supported $3.30 favourite. Baker will also saddle up $11 chance Hollywood Hero.
“He is the opposite to Iknowastar – you just have to leave him alone in the first part of the race and he will be there for you at the end,” Baker said.
“If you ride him closer, he is not the same horse. We saw what he can do when Tommy Berry let him rip at Canterbury from back in the field, and he will be ridden exactly the same on Saturday.
“He is the sort of horse that is just getting better all the time, and it helps that we know how to ride him. He made the Big Dance last year and that came a bit early for him; I would love to get him back there again.”
Baker will keep Stefi Magnetica in NSW for the Takeover Target Stakes, where he also has wet-tracker Wategos, while the speedy Passeggiata returns as favourite over 900m later in the day.
Stefi Magnetica was given a break after she was runner-up in the Surround Stakes, and Baker is eying the Stradbroke with her.
“We have her in the Gold Coast Guineas [at the Sunshine Coast] but the track is under water up there, so it might be a better option to stay here,” Baker said.
“The winner of the Stradbroke [Think About It] came through the Takeover Target last year, and we would still be able to go into the Fred Best Stakes in four weeks.
“She is already a group 1 placegetter and is ready to run well fresh as usual, and the wet track won’t be a problem for her.”
Stefi Magnetica has been made a $6 favourite for the listed sprint. Wategos is a $9 chance.
“Wategos is one that loves wetter tracks, and he is going to step off a couple of runs and has drawn in the right place,” Baker said. “It’s a big step up for him, but I think he is another one that is still improving and could find his way to Brisbane.”
Baker will open the day with a couple of two-year-olds looking for a city win. Perfumist won on debut at Bathurst, and Point And Shoot found the line hard behind Ikasara at Rosehill on debut.
“Point And Shoot still does a few things wrong and that might be a problem with the short straight at Gosford,” Baker said. “The talent is there, but I want to see him do it, while Perfumist is a winner but has a bad draw.”
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