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.