Having already delivered an early milestone for Godolphin’s new-look public training model, Bjorn Baker is eager to extend that success into the summer period.
Baker recorded Godolphin’s first Group win under the revamped structure when Pericles claimed the Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Randwick in September.
The reliable gelding went on to place in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) and then narrowly missed when second to Ceolwulf in a thrilling finish to the Group 1 Champions Stakes (1600m) at Flemington during Cup week.
On Sunday, three-year-old Loving will make his stable debut for Baker in the Asahi Super Dry Handicap (1200m). While not expected to scale the same heights as Pericles just yet, the gelding has shown ability in lower-grade races.
Winning consecutive starts at Geelong and Newcastle on rain-affected tracks during winter, he now tackles metropolitan company following two recent trials.
He did not sport blinkers in either trial, but they will go back on for race day, something Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton believes could be crucial.
“He will have blinkers on this weekend, which he hasn’t had in his trials, and he has had them on in all his starts. Hopefully that might give us a little bit more with him,” Hilton said.
“His trials have been good. He’s a little bit hard to assess because he is coming out of two-year-old races and now into Sydney Saturday grade.
“He’s got to take that step up from provincial racing, but he’s been good at home, and it seems the right race for him.”
Loving is one of three Baker-trained runners heading to Rosehill, joined by Viktor in the Vinnie @ Yarraman Park Handicap (1500m) and Dame Commander, who resumes in the Chandon Handicap (1300m).
Dame Commander was Group placed last year in the Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle before a Queensland Oaks campaign failed to pan out.
The stable intends to lower the bar this time in, giving her a chance to rebuild confidence.
“We always thought she’d get to a staying trip and might have been an Oaks filly, but she just didn’t get all the way through,” Hilton said.
“We may keep her a bit shorter and sharper this time in and the mile may max her out.
“She generally needs a run or two. We have thrown her in the deep end most of the time, so we’d like to bring her back in grade a bit and let her win some races hopefully.”
Punters weighing up Sunday’s Rosehill card can compare updated odds at Australia’s leading betting sites.
