When Bjorn Baker travels a horse from his Sydney base to run at Flemington over the sprint trips, they’re usually not coming for just an outing.
Following up on Ozzomosis’ victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Malkovich starts in the Listed Kensington Stakes (1000m) which highlights the Rapid Racing card on Wednesday.
With all of the races being run down the sprinting trips down the Flemington straight, Baker’s knack for setting horses for black type events with success there cannot be overlooked.
Malkovich’s last run at Flemington delivered a narrow win in the Listed Bob Hoysted Handicap (1000m) in March 2022.
Before that, the now six-year-old gelding finished second to Halvorsen – who also starts in the Kensington Stakes – in the Listed Century Stakes also over the 1000-metre straight dash in November 2021.
“He’s got a good record over the 1000-metres,” Baker said of Malkovich who is by 2003 Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) winner Choisir.
“Being just beaten by Halvorsen a couple of years ago, it looks like it will be a good re-match.
“He was good first-up over 1100-metres and back to the 1000-metres should suit and he seems really bright and well.”
Being back in that familiar territory and coming into this event after a third placing in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill earlier this month, Baker said that with his string of luck at Flemington combined with the drop back in distance second-up, Malkovich is ready to go on Wednesday.
“I’ve had a good run there,” Baker said of the Flemington.
“I had Overpass winning the Inglis three-year-old race, Malkovich winning and Ozzmosis.
“It has worked out well down the straight.”
While uncertain why he has developed such a knack for winning races down the straight, but Baker thinks that having a jump out course that runs about 800-metres in a straight line at Warwick Farm helps his horses becoming more accustomed to racing without a turn.
The Kensington Stakes is the first of Melbourne’s summer sprinting features through December and January.