Royal Ascot gets Baker treatment
Bjorn Baker leads the way in new media experiences for his fans and punters, and he is determined to take his popular Instagram live to Royal Ascot.
The Baker team show off their stables and horses every Friday morning with a broadcast that includes tips, news and a deal of humour.
It is not only Baker but right-hand man Luke Hilton and the important tip from Lobby. Glen Lobb is a huge part of team at Bakers that has grown to become second only to Chris Waller in Sydney and always features in the videos.
The trio will be at Ascot for Overpass’s gallop on Friday, and they are planning to stream from there, while completing press engagements.
Baker’s wife Andrea has been the brains behind the stable’s move into social media and will be there at Ascot to help with production.
“It has been a great way for us to connect with our clients and other punters,” Baker said. “We try to answer a few questions and show our horses.
“It is something we do every Friday. I have to say it was Andrea’s idea and it has worked really well.
“We are going to go international with Overpass, so the Instagram live will as well.
“We have to work out how much we will do, but I’ll definitely do it.
“Andrea is going to be there, so I’ll do what I’m told.
”Hopefully, we can show the gallop and some of the behind-the-scenes stuff.
Sir Delius beat two queens to be the best of year
Australian racing had two queens this season but it was a knight that in the end proved himself the best horse in the country.
While Via Sistina got what was the perfect ending in the Cox Plate, and Autumn Glow won 11-straight, it was Sir Delius that had their measure.
There can be no debate about horse-of-the-year as Sir Delius won group 1s in the two biggest carnivals of the season in Sydney and Melbourne.
He beat Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes and without the Racing Victoria scans could have won the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.
Sir Delius had to return through vet protocols in the autumn but on the biggest stage put Autumn Glow to the sword in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Remarkably, he only started favourite once in the season when winning the Underwood Stakes and may still be a little underrated and under appreciated.
Half Yours will be stayer of the year after his Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup heroics but he has failed to step up to the weight-for-age in Brisbane which counts him out of the major award.
Joliestar’s autumn sweep will be enough for her to be sprinter of the year after success in The Shorts in the spring.
Golden Slipper winner Guest House will be two-year-old of the year, Sheza Alibi is three-year-old filly of the year and Autumn Boy the three-year-old colt and gelding for the year.
Wodeton finds Newgate home
Wodeton was nearly a Golden boy but he will still get his chance as a stallion in a partnership between Newgate and Coolmore studs.
As a son of Wootton Bassett with the speed influence of an Exceed And Excel mare, Wodeton combines the best of Europe with a precocious deep Australian family.
He was narrowly denied in the Golden Slipper by Marhoona and had to play second fiddle to Beiwacht in the fastest Golden Rose of all-time, which encouraged Newgate’s Henry Field to chase him to stand at his farm.
“As a two-year-old, the stable made it clear in no uncertain terms that he simply breathed different air,” Field said. “He demolished a quality field on debut and was denied Golden Slipper glory by the narrowest possible margin.
“He was the highest-rated colt of his generation and came within a nose of Australian racing immortality.
“In the Golden Slipper itself, he was desperately unlucky. He was held up at a crucial stage before charging home once clear, and there is little doubt that with uninterrupted running he wins the race.
“I feel genuinely honoured that the Magnier family has given us the opportunity to be involved with Wodeton.
“Coolmore gave me extraordinary opportunities in the early stages of my career, and I will always be grateful for that. To now stand a horse of Wodeton’s quality alongside them is incredibly meaningful to me.”
Wodeton will stand for $16,500, which looks great value, and will have the support of the broodmare band from two of the best farm in the Hunter.
Coolmore boss Tom Magnier said Field’s belief in Wodeton made it the perfect opportunity for the farms to work together.
“There is no doubting Wodeton possessed extraordinary natural ability,” Magnier said.
“He was one of the most beautiful yearlings you could wish to see and, importantly, he is by Wootton Bassett, a stallion who is very close to our hearts.”
Lloyd starts on the double at Doncaster
Zac Lloyd wasted no time in getting on the board in England with a winning double at Doncaster on Saturday.
The tyro of Australian racing booted home Any Which Way and Arctic Dawn as he prepared for a Royal Ascot appearance.
Golden Slipper-winning jockey Lloyd has been riding work at Newmarket as he has been learning the differences between Australian and English racing.
“It is great to experience the UK racing, the different tracks and I’m very happy to get a winner,” he said after his first winner.
“[You need] to learn their racing first before you take on the best [at Royal Ascot.
“Obviously I have raced in all the big races in Sydney but coming here is a whole new kettle of fish. It is a different ball game, so I’m not going to rush or anything.
“Hopefully by Royal Ascot time I’m ready to fire.”
Ridiculous Derby scratching farce
The late scratching of the English Derby favourite after it got its leg up in the stalls was ridiculous.
In Australia and most of the rest of the world, Benvenuto Cellini would have been declared a runner because he caused the problem for himself. But England has different rules.
It only became clear Benvenuto Cellini had his leg up because the TV coverage had a camera in the barriers above the favourite, which caused an order for 25 pence deductions.
Remarkably, some bookmakers refused to take the deductions in a clear protest that the decision was wrong.
Racing is full of misfortune that isn’t caused by the horse itself and stewards don’t usually get involved in that. The barrier in the end is a controlled environment where the horse is the master of his own destiny.
