Latest news with #TABHandicap
Sydney Morning Herald
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Baker confident O'Invincible can rise to the top
It's not clear yet where the bar is with unbeaten filly O'Invincible, but her first-up task at Kensington today is a lot lower than trainer Bjorn Baker had initially planned. The three-year-old was being set for the Scone carnival but Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton said a minor issue following her first trial in early April meant those plans had to be changed. After a quick reset, she showed her readiness to return in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1000m) with a trial win two weeks ago. 'We did pencil in a stakes race at Scone for her, but she had a setback and we had to cool our jets with her,' Hilton said. 'She just needed a bit of time. Bjorn's been patient with her, and she's back in good order now and trialled well leading into this. This is a nice kick-off point for her and hopefully she can reach the levels we think she can.' O'Invincible won on debut at Hawkesbury in early December and scored her second win in the stewards room at Wyong just before Christmas. Hilton said the stable has always had a good opinion of the daughter of Viddora, a two-time Group 1 winner who also contested the 2018 TAB Everest, and is confident she'll give herself every chance. 'We've been really pleased with her, her work on Saturday was great and the trails have been very good,' he said. 'She's got good tactical speed and can put herself on speed, she's not a very big filly so carrying the weight is probably the biggest challenge for her.' Stardeel is something of a work in progress for the Baker team and Hilton said if he's able to win the TAB Handicap (1150m) first-up it'll be a bonus.
The Age
10-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Baker confident O'Invincible can rise to the top
It's not clear yet where the bar is with unbeaten filly O'Invincible, but her first-up task at Kensington today is a lot lower than trainer Bjorn Baker had initially planned. The three-year-old was being set for the Scone carnival but Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton said a minor issue following her first trial in early April meant those plans had to be changed. After a quick reset, she showed her readiness to return in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1000m) with a trial win two weeks ago. 'We did pencil in a stakes race at Scone for her, but she had a setback and we had to cool our jets with her,' Hilton said. 'She just needed a bit of time. Bjorn's been patient with her, and she's back in good order now and trialled well leading into this. This is a nice kick-off point for her and hopefully she can reach the levels we think she can.' O'Invincible won on debut at Hawkesbury in early December and scored her second win in the stewards room at Wyong just before Christmas. Hilton said the stable has always had a good opinion of the daughter of Viddora, a two-time Group 1 winner who also contested the 2018 TAB Everest, and is confident she'll give herself every chance. 'We've been really pleased with her, her work on Saturday was great and the trails have been very good,' he said. 'She's got good tactical speed and can put herself on speed, she's not a very big filly so carrying the weight is probably the biggest challenge for her.' Stardeel is something of a work in progress for the Baker team and Hilton said if he's able to win the TAB Handicap (1150m) first-up it'll be a bonus.
Courier-Mail
03-06-2025
- General
- Courier-Mail
Warwick Farm preview: Key factors to help Bjorn Baker's mare Starmae
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. Trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping a drop in grade and weight can help Starmae get back to winning form when she steps out on her home track. The four-year-old has been good in his three starts this preparation including her last two runs in Saturday metropolitan company when fifth to Memoria at Randwick and seventh to Oh Diamond Lil at the Scone stand-alone meeting on May 17 Starmae carried 56kg and 57kg respectively in those two races and drops down to 54.5kg after the claim of apprentice Olivia Chambers in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1300m). 'This is a good race for her. It's a drop back in grade after running in Saturday grade in her last two where she acquitted herself well,' said Baker. 'She gets a good drop in weight with Olivia's claim and she is one from one on this mare having won at Wyong last year. 'Starmae galloped outstanding on Saturday. She was really sharp. 'She may have just taken a couple of runs to get to her peak but this is a good scenario over 1300m again, back in grade, lovely gate (barrier 4) and no weight. 'This is her race to run well.' Baker also saddles up consistent gelding Bat Out Of Hell in the same race where he has drawn barrier 11 but feels he will be better suited once he steps up over a little further. 'He probably needs 1400m and 1500m but he has to start somewhere,' he said. 'He is a horse who always tries his hardest and he has trialled better this time in better than he has in previous preparations. 'We're confident he is going to have a good preparation. Whether it's this week or whether he just gets run under his belt and he'll be ready to go.' Baker was looking forward to seeing Swordplay make her debut at Canterbury last week but she was a late scratching after getting her leg up in the barriers. The daughter of Shalaa has shown plenty of ability and speed to lead all-the-way for big wins in her two barrier trials under Rachel King. 'This is obviously 'Take Two' after she was scratched at the barriers last Wednesday which was unfortunate,' he said. 'She's a lovely, promising filly and she couldn't be any more professional than she has been in her trials.' Swordplay has drawn barrier 6 in the TAB Handicap (1100m) with King aboard. 'She has good speed and should roll forward to settle in the first few. Hopefully she brings her trials form to race day,' Baker said. Baker also has Jarrito set to debut in the same race. The daughter of I Am Invincible and Group 1 winner Spright has placed in both trials but will improve with race experience according to Baker. 'She is lovely filly who is still a little bit raw but has done enough in her trials to say she is ready to go to the races,' he said. 'She is definitely going to be better for the run but she is an exciting filly. 'She has drawn an ideal gate and she will hopefully get a smother just behind the speed. She has got a really nice turn of foot.' Baker was pleased with Regimental Colours in her first campaign where she placed in two of her three runs at Canterbury and is looking forward to her return in the Hitotsu At Arrowfield Plate (1100m). 'She has improved a lot both mentally and physically from what she did that preparation,' he said. 'Her trials have been good and while she is open to improvement, she is there to run well.' ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Well-bred filly Manaajem kicked off her career with a win and trainer Peter Snowden is quietly confident she can start her second campaign the same way. A three-quarter sister to recent Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Charm Stone and a full sister to Snowden's dual Listed winner Najmaty, Manaajem showed nice ability winning her two trials before debuting with a big win at Wyong on December 31. After pulling up lame when fifth to Alliri on the Kensington 15 days later and was spelled. 'She was just immature and jarred up in her knees,' said Snowden. 'That's why we gave her a good spell and she seems a lot stronger this time in. We have had no issues with her at all.' The daughter of Tassort has trialled stylishly ahead of her return in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1100m) when she has drawn barrier 3 with Tommy Berry aboard. 'Both her trials have been quite good. We have always thought quite a bit of her and we are pleased with the way she has come back,' Snowden said. 'She has a good draw and Tommy has ridden her in nearly all her work and in her trials. 'We are quietly confident she can run well.' Snowden was hoping to get a maiden win on the board for Catonahotinroof at Canberra last start but things didn't go to plan when she missed the start by seven or eight lengths before finishing less than three lengths behind Celestial Breeze in fifth place. 'She just hopped up in the air as the gates opened and lost all chance,' Snowden said. 'She still ran a slashing race to finish as close as she did.' The three-year-old was sent back to the trials where she came from last to beat Wonderstorm at Warwick Farm on May 26 and will make her presence felt in the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m). 'She trialled really well the other day. She handles the soft track without any problems,' said Snowden. 'That might play into her hands a little bit this week. 'She has been up a while but is still in good shape and certainly capable of running well.' Snowden is happy with the way Earth Dance is coming along but said wants further than the 1600m of the Vinnie Three-Time Champion Sire Handicap. 'He will go to 1900 metres at his third start and will be better suited.'
Sydney Morning Herald
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Charlton-O'Shea team chasing second breakthroughs at Canterbury
Not everything has gone Kenmare Bay's way since he notched his maiden win in the first few weeks of the season, but co-trainer Tom Charlton hopes things finally fall into place at Canterbury on Wednesday. A common theme among the horses Charlton and co-trainer John O'Shea have engaged at the meeting is that they are looking for that second breakthrough, and Kenmare Bay goes into the TAB Handicap (1900m) with six placings from eight starts since his lone win. The gelding was runner-up in his first three runs this time in before a shock failure at Gosford on Anzac Day, but he bounced back with a run Charlton said had plenty of merit when third behind Ella Hazel at Kensington two weeks ago. 'One just crossed him early and lit him up a bit, and he over-raced through the mid stages, and probably got to a part of the track that wasn't favourable,' Charlton said. 'It was a pretty credible effort and from a soft draw if things can unfold for him, and he can get things to go his way, there's no reason why he can't win.' Loading Stablemate Natural Deduction, who has two wins to his name, has his second run from a year's absence in the same race with apprentice Jace McMurray taking 3kg off his top weight of 62kg. He made ground late when resuming over a mile at Warwick Farm, and Charlton said he can be a big improver. 'He's coming off a lengthy layoff, and his run was excellent the other day over an inferior trip,' he said. 'He gets to a nice distance for him, and he can be competitive absolutely.'
The Age
27-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Charlton-O'Shea team chasing second breakthroughs at Canterbury
Not everything has gone Kenmare Bay's way since he notched his maiden win in the first few weeks of the season, but co-trainer Tom Charlton hopes things finally fall into place at Canterbury on Wednesday. A common theme among the horses Charlton and co-trainer John O'Shea have engaged at the meeting is that they are looking for that second breakthrough, and Kenmare Bay goes into the TAB Handicap (1900m) with six placings from eight starts since his lone win. The gelding was runner-up in his first three runs this time in before a shock failure at Gosford on Anzac Day, but he bounced back with a run Charlton said had plenty of merit when third behind Ella Hazel at Kensington two weeks ago. 'One just crossed him early and lit him up a bit, and he over-raced through the mid stages, and probably got to a part of the track that wasn't favourable,' Charlton said. 'It was a pretty credible effort and from a soft draw if things can unfold for him, and he can get things to go his way, there's no reason why he can't win.' Loading Stablemate Natural Deduction, who has two wins to his name, has his second run from a year's absence in the same race with apprentice Jace McMurray taking 3kg off his top weight of 62kg. He made ground late when resuming over a mile at Warwick Farm, and Charlton said he can be a big improver. 'He's coming off a lengthy layoff, and his run was excellent the other day over an inferior trip,' he said. 'He gets to a nice distance for him, and he can be competitive absolutely.'
