Trainer Bjorn Baker has concluded an exceptional week with a significant win on home soil.
His rapidly developing gelding, Midnight Dynamite, clinched victory in Saturday’s Listed Civic Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick.
The win comes just days after stablemate Overpass finished a gallant third in the King Charles III Stakes at the renowned Royal Ascot track. Overpass is scheduled to race again in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m).
Baker, who attended Overpass’s UK debut, entrusted the horse to his racing manager Luke Hilton. Baker returned to Sydney on Thursday night to oversee his local runners.
“It was a great trip, and he ran so well, Overpass,” Baker said. “We’ve got a pretty special horse here too in Midnight Dynamite. He is putting together a marvellous record for Darby Racing, and he was dominant today.”
Midnight Dynamite is building a formidable record, having won eight of his twenty starts and three of his four starts this campaign.
Baker confessed that the horse’s ongoing improvement has taken the stable by surprise, and he believes the four-year-old has not yet reached his full potential.
“He’s been a horse who has surprised us, just how well he is going, and how he keeps improving,” he said. “When he gets in better grade, if he ever hits a really wet track, he’s going to be very tough to beat.”
The Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on July 4 is the likely next destination for Midnight Dynamite. Winning jockey Jason Collett echoes Baker’s confidence in the gelding’s upward trajectory.
“He is only getting better,” Collett affirmed. “This preparation he has gone to another level so that says time is a good thing for him. He ticks a lot of boxes, and he’s going through the handicaps nicely.”
Midnight Dynamite ($2.60 favourite) won by 1-3/4 lengths from Whinchat ($19), who had led the field and fought on determinedly, with Cool Jakey ($5) a further short neck behind.
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