Highlighted in a recent Breednet ‘Juvenile Trial Watch’ story the half-sister to brilliant stakes-winning filly Isotope made a winning debut at Hawkesbury on Thursday becoming the ninth winner for Winning Rupert. Trained by Bjorn Baker, as were both her sire and her dam, Rupertaar gave notice of good things to come when winning a recent Rosehill trial by more than five lengths. Ridden by Rachel King, Rupertaar did everything right just as she did in her trial, powering forwar

He’s a front-running rails hugger and trainer Bjorn Baker would like to think Canasta has his chance to improve on two second placings this time in at Randwick on Saturday. With 60.5kg due to no apprentice claim this time around in the ACY Securities Handicap (1400m), Baker is hoping Tim Clark can bring out the best in the honest five-year-old. Canasta resumed at Randwick a month ago and was run down by Dream Circle then gave the running rail a decent shove in the straight be

Bjorn Baker “doesn’t like” sending horses to Melbourne but the Sydney trainer has a long-range plan for explosive colt Malkovich at Caulfield. “Hang on” is about the only riding instruction Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker need give a jockey booked aboard speedy colt Malkovich, who makes his Victorian debut on Saturday at Caulfield. “He’s got too much speed to do anything else,” Baker said. “He’s got speed on speed on speed so the 1000m should suit.” Baker, son of one of New Zealan

Warwick Farm-based Gary Portelli is looking to the future with his two runners engaged at Randwick on Saturday. Portelli currently has three horses nominated but said back-to-back winner The Empire won’t take his place in the three-year-old benchmark 72 (1300m). Amoretti will need some luck to gain a start, currently sitting outside the final field before acceptances on Wednesday. The four-year-old is returning from a break after finishing seventh in his last start at Hawkesb

Multi-venue trainer Mark Newnham plans to have some of Sydney’s richest spring targets covered in the spring. The Randwick and Warwick Farm-based trainer looks set to end the 2019/20 season firmly entrenched in the top 10 Sydney trainers, currently fourth in the premiership behind powerhouse operations of Chris Waller and James Cummings and the Warwick Farm-based Bjorn Baker. Recently Newnham welcomed home his dual Group 1 winner Shadow Hero after a failed stint in Hong Kong,

Newly gelded three-year-old The Empire has continued his progression through the grades with a strong three length success at Warwick Farm on Monday. The well bred son of Not A Single Doubt contested the Bowerman’s Furniture Benchmark 64 3YO Handicap (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Monday following a victory at Newcastle the start prior. The three-year-old handled the stronger company with minimal fuss, working forward to lead the seven runner field throughout for a three length s

If Zaaki has any chinks in his armour, Mark Newnham is hoping Spirit Ridge is the horse to expose them. Rival trainer Mark Newnham is not running scared of boom horse Zaaki, who he believes has two hurdles to overcome if he is to justify his odds-on quote in the $1.2 million Q22. Newnham found out the hard way that not all horses handle Eagle Farm when Moreton Cup favourite Splintex failed to cope with the circuit last Saturday and was well beaten. While Zaaki was breathtakin

Million dollar mares have been a hot topic in the wake of the recent booming Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and the mare that topped that sale in 2013 when sold for $1.55million produced an interesting winner in Ireland last week. That mare was Fastnet Rock’s Group I winning daughter Nechita, who was bought by Tom Magnier and sent back to Ireland and has been a regular partner for Coolmore’s champion sire Galileo. Her first foal is Harpo Marx, who found his way back t

Trainer Bjorn Baker is ready to reach into the gear back to help talented juvenile Overpass find a couple of lengths in his grand final in Saturday’s Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Baker has kept the blinkers up his sleeve and is set to produce them in the $1 million feature for two-year-olds in Queensland. His classy son of Vancouver has remained in the Sunshine State in preparation for the final juvenile major of the season after finishing fourth in the BRC