Trainer Bjorn Baker out to continue Magic run

Posted by RS NewsWire at 2:49pm on December 14th

It has been a heady year for trainer Bjorn Baker and he is keen to continue that momentum through the summer as he sets his sights on next month’s Magic Millions carnival at the Gold Coast.

Baker has been in tremendous form, winning the inaugural The Quokka with Overpass, the stallion-making Coolmore Stud Stakes with exciting colt Ozzmosis and earlier this month venturing back to Western Australia to plunder the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes with Overpass.

“It has been great, a really good year. I’m very happy with how things have gone and hopefully it can continue into next year,” Baker said.

While Saturday’s Randwick meeting doesn’t boast any feature races, it will be an important stepping stone for a number of gallopers looking to stake their Magic Millions claims.

Among them will be Baker’s pair of Infatuation and Lady Of Luxury, who resume in the TAB Handicap (1100m) and Petaluma Handicap (1200m) respectively.

Infatuation had some strong juvenile formlines, finishing runner-up in the 2022 Golden Gift and fourth behind Skirt The Law in this year’s Magic Millions Classic (1200m).

While she has drawn awkwardly in barrier 12 on Saturday, Baker is hoping she can show enough to secure her passage back to the Gold Coast.

“We’re hopeful of getting her up for the Magic Millions three-year-old (Guineas) next month, that’s the main aim,” Baker said.

“She’s going in without a trial but her work at home has been good.

“Hopefully she can jump and put herself in the first four.”

Baker has his sights on the Magic Millions fillies and mares’ race for Lady Of Luxury, who has a strong first-up record but will have to lump topweight of 59kg on Saturday.

The trainer has an uncanny knack of taking out the last race, although he will be satisfied if Lady Of Luxury is simply doing her best work at the finish.

“She has got a big weight and it’s a kick off point for her,” he said.

“She will probably get back and if she hits the line, we’ll be comfortable going forward.”

Import Dreamflight rounds out Baker’s Sydney team in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (2000m) but the horse has struggled to recapture his French form since coming to Australia and needs to lift.

More Racing News

Vein Girl impresses in rich Magic Millions The Debut win

Vein Girl has put herself in contention for next month’s $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a strong win on debut under lights at the Gold Coast’s first night meeting. The Chris and Corey Munce-trained Vein Girl was sent out the $3.50 favourite with betting sites in Friday night’s $250,000...

Dec 21st

Pallaton races into 2025 Golden Slipper contention

Pallaton has stamped himself as a two-year-old colt to watch heading into 2025 with an impressive debut win at Randwick. Trained by Michael Freedman and ridden by Tommy Berry, Pallaton raced to a 2-3/4-length victory in Saturday’s Shinzo @ Coolmore Plate (1000m) and firmed to be among the early favourites in Golden Slipper...

Dec 21st

Arriving Home set to target the Magic Millions Guineas 2025

Trainer Bjorn Baker would love to get lightly raced filly Arriving Home into the Magic Millions Guineas next month after the three-year-old remained unbeaten with a tough win at Randwick. Stepping up from a midweek city maiden win at Warwick Farm on debut earlier this month into Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1300m) – a...

Dec 21st

Here To Shock gives Lindsay Park quinella in The Supernova

Ben, Will & Jd Hayes had the numbers two and three seed to knock off race-favourite Nadal in Saturday’s $1 million The Supernova (1400m) at Pakenham and did just that, with Here To Shock, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, edging stablemate Arkansaw Kid in a thrilling stable quinella. Here To Shock ($4.60) trailed a strong...

Dec 21st

The Kings horse Gilded Water wins at Randwick

Imported stayer Gilded Water has made it back-to-back victories in Australia and has given his owner, His Majesty King Charles III, a winner at Royal Randwick. The King’s racing manager John Warren was on track at Randwick on Saturday as the Ciaron Maher-trained Gilded Water raced to a convincing victory in the...

Dec 21st

Goldman digs deep in the Pakenham Cup 2024

One time Melbourne Cup favourite, Goldman has notched up his fourth win in Australia, leading throughout to take the Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) under Beau Mertens. Jumping an $8.50 chance, Goldman’s staying prowess was on show as he kicked back to deny Grand Pierro ($19) by a long head, with $3.30 betting site...

Dec 21st

Kevin Daffy happy to wait with Oh Too Good ahead of VOBIS Gold Bullion

Trainer Kevin Daffy says there is still plenty of time to chase the big league with his lightly-raced mare Oh Too Good. A winner of four of her seven starts with three runner-up finishes as well, Oh Too Hard runs in the VOBIS Gold Bullion (1400m) at Pakenham on Saturday. Daffy was sounded...

Dec 20th

Bedggood chases rich The Supernova prize

Two rising nine-year-olds, both resuming, will give Gavin Bedggood a potential shot at his biggest payday as a trainer. A former jockey, Bedggood has been plying his trade as a trainer since 2017 and during the recent Melbourne Spring Carnival prepared Mornington Glory to land his first Group 1 success. Just Folk and Windstorm, both...

Dec 20th

Collett hoping for Dream Brisbane raid in BJ McLachlan Stakes and Magic Millions Falvelon

A pair of promising two-year-olds from the Ciaron Maher stable have lured top Sydney hoop Jason Collett to Queensland for back-to-back meetings this weekend. Collett is heading north to partner filly Life After Love in the $250,000 Magic Millions The Debut (1000m) at the Gold Coast on Friday night and her Maher-trained stablemate...

Dec 20th

Theodore aims to keep strike-rate going in Christmas Cup at Murray Bridge

Trainer Stephen Theodore is looking to Divine Fire keeping his impressive strike-rate going when she shoots for a winning hat-trick on Saturday. After victories at Morphettville and Gawler, Divine Fire runs in the Christmas Cup (1600m) at Murray Bridge with Jacob Opperman in the saddle. Since returning to training ranks at the start of...

Dec 20th