3 minute read

Bjorn Baker has his eyes set on the Magic Millions with his filly Infatuation.

She sits at number one in the ballot for the $2 million 2YO Magic Millions to be run on the Gold Coast on January 14 and Warwick Farm-based trainer Bjorn Baker will be hoping his filly Infatuation can justify that position with a strong showing at Royal Randwick tomorrow. 

After picking up $190,000 for her second place in the Golden Gift two runs back, the I Am Invincible filly is assured of a start in the lucrative feature for juveniles and will be using tomorrow's handicap over 1200m as a springboard into the event. 

Jockey Rachel King, who has been on her back for the past two outings, sticks and she will be looking to fare better than she did in the Wyong Magic Millions Classic last time out. 

"She's going really well, she was a little unlucky at Wyong," Baker said. 

"She just never got any clear air and never got her momentum up, so I think she'll be better suited by the 1200m tomorrow. 

"She's got a good gate, Rachel should be able to put her in her comfort zone. Obviously she's a Magic Millions filly so the plan is to get up there in good order." 

Baker also has the daughter of The Autumn Sun in Cathay Bracelet in the same contest, who comes out of a quality form race last weekend behind the likes of Fire Lane, Platinum Jubilee and Empire Of Japan. She's drawn a bit sticky in gate 11, but has the services of in-form hoop Jay Ford to overcome that barrier. 

"She made good ground late last time, she's probably looking for longer so the 1200m suits better than anything," Baker said. 

"I think she's a nice filly, especially once she gets over ground. Just hoping she can settle a little bit closer and finishes off strongly. 

"She's certainly not out of it." 

Later in the card Baker has his Written Tycoon colt O'Tycoon engaged following a placing around the Randwick circuit a fortnight ago. The Kiwi conditioner has a great affinity with the progeny of Written Tycoon, with son Music Magnate providing his first ever Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 back in 2016. 

"He's in good order, very happy with him he looks great," Baker said. 

"Bit of an awkward gate (barrier 12), but he'll roll forward and will hopefully take luck out of the equation.

"Back to the 1300m suits." 

Baker then saddles up the enigmatic Rupertaar in the ensuing event, a mare that has proven to be a bit of a hit or miss type. The daughter of Winning Rupert, a Written Tycoon colt that Baker also trained, has won four of her 12 starts but has only placed on one other occasion. 

"Last time she just had to work too hard from the gate, had to go forward and it took its toll at the finish," Baker said. 

"She's a good mare on her day, but there's two of her. 

"She either turns up and wins or doesn't run well at all, but she's in good shape and I think she can run a nice race." 

There's a bumper ten-race card scheduled at Royal Randwick tomorrow, with the first set to kick off at 12.20pm.