Bjorn Baker hasn’t had much luck in this year’s restricted two-year-old races, but it could be about to change with Profitabelle in Saturday’s Inglis Millenium at Randwick.
The Warwick Farm trainer had Paradoxium and Warwoven have to be withdrawn from the Magic Millions when favourites and also missed the race with Masvingo.
It seemed the jinx had continued when Profitabelle was just second emergency for the Inglis equivalent, but a couple of scratchings have her in the race with barrier one.
“These are races you aim for with a horse like her, and we were pleased to get a run,” Baker said. “She is a nice filly and is going to be better suited at 1100m from a good gate.”
“She has a good change of gear, and the pressure that comes in big two-year-old races should help here.”
Profitabelle was well fancied at her only start when she got back to last, giving seven lengths to leaders, and charged home into third behind Knightsbridge beaten by 1-1/2 lengths.
“The plan was this race and I was a bit surprised when she didn’t make the field,” Baker said. “She is better for that experience and has a good trial since.”
“She has got a good little motor but she will have to pick her way through the field because she will get back. I think she is ready to run a big race.”
It is a big day for the Baker stable with Unleeshing and Monte Veebee looking to continue winning runs as they look towards better races later in the autumn.
“They are both nice horses with a future. We are going to take the grades on the way through but there might be a good race in both of them,” Baker said.
“I think Thunderlips and War Eternal find a good race for them, but both need luck from the draw, but with Sandpaper going to Melbourne, I think they will be in the finish.”
Carrington Stakes winner Sandpaper will stick to the 1400m in the Kevin Heffernan Stakes at Caulfield.
“He has drawn well down there and he is probably that bit better at 1400m as opposed to the mile,” Baker said.
“He has continued to please us at home and it is worth taking him down there for the right race.”
