Murray Baker was renowned for his training skills with stayers, and his son Bjorn Baker is aiming to follow in those footsteps with Arapaho in the upcoming Sydney Cup (3200m). The elder Baker secured numerous top-tier victories, including five Australian Derbies and the 1992 Sydney Cup with My Eagle Eye.
Bjorn, who celebrated a major win with Stefi Magnetica in the Doncaster Mile last weekend, is hoping to add more silverware on day two of The Championships at Randwick. His strong team includes Stefi Magnetica in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) and Arapaho in the Sydney Cup.
“They need to be fit as much as anything,” Baker said. “So it was just to give them a good base and have them fit and they’ve got to be relaxed during the run too, which is key.”
Arapaho is deep into his preparation, with notable efforts including a runner-up finish to Vauban in the Sky High Stakes (2000m) and fourth place in the Tancred Stakes (2400m). He’s tried the two-mile trip twice before with mixed results—midfield in the 2022 Melbourne Cup and fourth in last year’s Sydney Cup.
“Two miles is a bit of a question mark,” Baker admitted. “But we’re happy with him. He ran really well in the Tancred so we’re hoping it works out.”
Stefi Magnetica will back up quickly from her Doncaster triumph, something she has done successfully before. In the spring, she ran strongly in the Champions Mile (1600m) after contesting the Golden Eagle (1500m).
“We know she performs well on the back-up. She went to the Champions Mile after the Golden Eagle last year and was very good that day,” Baker said. “She has got a good gate to help on Saturday as well, gate four, so she should be able to put herself right there and we couldn’t be happier with the way she has come through.”
Within The Law will also run in the Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) after a mishap in the Golden Slipper. “She’s in great order, thankfully, and she trialled well last week,” said Baker. “She has been running well, she’s been a great two-year-old filly for Darby (Racing) and on form alone, I think she’s a great chance.”
Baker also saddles Alabama Charm in the Percy Sykes, Imperial Force in the Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, and Queues Likely in the Sapphire Stakes as part of a strong Randwick squad.
