Group 1 winner back after year out

Group 1 Samadoubt is impressing in the early stages of his return to work after spending more than year off the scene.

The one-time Winx Stakes winner is back in work with trainer Bjorn Baker at his Warwick Farm base after last featuring in the Group 3 Craven Plate at Randwick on The Everest day in 2019.

Samadoubt picked up a tendon strain when in work in January this year and was immediately sent to the paddock for a long spell by connections.

Baker is hopeful his star son of Not A Single Doubt has put the issue behind him as he tentatively looks towards the autumn.

“Samadoubt is back in and I am actually really thrilled with him,” Baker said.

“He looks good, he is doing everything really well and he came in with a really good fitness base.

“You wouldn’t know which leg he had his injury with so the early stages are encouraging, but we are not getting carried away.”

Samadoubt was coming off a career year when he succumbed to injury, winning the Listed Canberra Cup in March before adding the Winx Stakes and Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes in the 2019n spring.

Baker is keen to target more stakes success with his seven-year-old early next year should the gelding continue to bounce back from his tendon strain.

“Because his rating is up there he is really weight-for-age races only so we have to get him going early enough in the autumn for those weight-for-age races otherwise you are only looking at Brisbane possibly,” Baker said.

Baker is preparing his stable for a massive Magic Millions tilt in January with the likes of Edison, Irithea, Redouble, Frosty Rocks, Fun Fact and Lady Of Luxury all headed to the Gold Coast.

Edison added another metropolitan success at Randwick on Saturday when he beat home Irithea (third) and Redouble (fourth) in the December Handicap.