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Baker quartet ready to Dance

3 minute read

Equal favourite Iknowastar headlines Bjorn Baker’s contingent for the Big Dance.

Trainer : BJORN BAKER.
Trainer : BJORN BAKER. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

Fresh from Group 1 success in the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Saturday, Bjorn Baker has stacked the bases for the feature race in Sydney on Melbourne Cup Day as he prepares to saddle up four runners in the $3 million Big Dance at Randwick. 

Among them is Iknowastar, who has drawn ideally in barrier three and shares top market billing with the Matt Dunn-trained Cepheus at $5. 

Stablemates Wategos (barrier eight), Highlights (barrier five) and Hollywood Hero provide a strong support cast and Baker believes all four are capable of winning. 

"We're going into the Big Dance with a show," Baker said. 

"I think you can mount a case for all of them. It will be a tough race, no doubt about it, but you've got to be in to win." 

Iknowastar arrives at the Big Dance (1600m) as the winner of his past four starts, kicking off with a Mudgee victory in September before qualifying for Tuesday's assignment via the Dubbo Cup

He has followed it up with back-to-back success on Randwick's Kensington circuit and while Baker isn't certain what has prompted the form surge, he can see no reason it won't continue. 

"I don't know, he has just turned it around and he's thriving," Baker said. 

"He looks fantastic and he has been running very quick times too. 

"He has broken two track records in his last few goes, and he is recovering each time brilliantly." 

Baker's only stipulation is that Iknowastar must lead, as he has done throughout his winning sequence. 

"He needs to lead and he will lead," he said. 

Wategos is the second pick of Baker's quartet, qualifying for a start with his Murwillumbah Cup triumph in August. 

He has subsequently finished runner-up to the promising Airman over 1200m at Randwick and midfield to Palmetto in the Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m). 

Baker expects another bold showing and if Wategos performs to expectations, he is in line to back-up in the Five Diamonds (1800m) on Saturday. 

"Wategos probably will go to the Five Diamonds, we will look to back him up," he said. 

"He's got the best form probably, while Hollywood Hero and Highlights are both in good form and look great. 

"All of them will be suited as the mile and they're all fit and healthy." 


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Tuesday, 07th November 2023

5
14:20
(local)

BIG DANCE

Age: 3yo and up WT: 52.0kg Type: Qlty
AUD $3,000,000
1600m TURF GOOD
5
14:20
(local)
AUD $3,000,000
1600m GOOD

BIG DANCE

Age: 3yo and up WT: 52.0kg Type: Qlty


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. ATTRACTABLE (AUS) 5yo G
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - AFFABLE (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
SARA RYAN
$19
56.5kg
Domeland Pty Ltd (Mgr: Y P Cheng)

Sales Information

2nd 1. CEPHEUS (GB) 6yo G
SEA THE STARS (IRE) - CRIMSON CHEER (USA)
NASH RAWILLER
MATTHEW DUNN
$4.8
62kg
O T I Racing, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, Porter Pelchen Bloodstock, R Menchise, J & Mrs J Spence, M Stone, Mrs A Stone, C Grace, D Reynolds, F Albanesi, R Albanesi, Goldmount Lodge Pty Ltd, Mrs M Anderson, W Watts, P Tasker, Tips and Beers (B Kanofski) & Mrs R H Kennedy

Sales Information

3rd 14. SUPER HELPFUL (AUS) 5yo G
SUPER ONE (AUS) - HELP (NZ)
ANDREW ADKINS
B JOSEPH & P & M JONES
$19
52kg
J J R Partnership (Mgr: P A Jones), Whitby Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr: M J Whitby), M G Howlin, B A Rutter, M K Walcott, S M Filipek, D M Kennedy, P H Joseph, Mrs B M Joseph, M G Jones, Mrs D G Jones, P A Jones & Mrs M Guthrie-Curran

Sales Information

4th 12. KING OF THE CASTLE (NZ) 7yo G
CASTLEDALE (IRE) - THE PRIMA DONNA (NZ)
KATHY O'HARA
JOSEPH PRIDE
$10
52kg

Sales Information

5th 9. CAMAGUEY (AUS) 5yo G
TEOFILO (IRE) - MATERNAL (AUS)
TOM SHERRY
KIM WAUGH
$61
53kg

Sales Information

6th 13. WATEGOS (AUS) 5yo G
CAPITALIST (AUS) - HAPPY HIPPY (AUS)
JAY FORD
BJORN BAKER
$11
52kg

Sales Information

7th 2. BANJU (AUS) 7yo G
BENFICA (AUS) - OVERLOOKED (AUS)
JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE
LYLE CHANDLER
$101
58kg
8th 5. SUPERIUM (AUS) 7yo G
VERRAZANO (USA) - ROSIE'S HALO (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
M, W & J HAWKES
$41
55kg

Sales Information

9th 16. HIGHLIGHTS (AUS) 6yo G
YOUR SONG (AUS) - ADRIATIC (AUS)
BROCK RYAN
BJORN BAKER
$16
52kg

Sales Information

10th 10. HOLLYWOOD HERO (NZ) 4yo H
SACRED FALLS (NZ) - MOVIE (NZ)
JASON COLLETT
BJORN BAKER
$16
53kg

Sales Information

11th 7. AKASAWA (AUS) 6yo G
REAL IMPACT (JPN) - FOREST CITY GIRL (USA)
CHAD SCHOFIELD
PAUL MESSARA & LEAH GAVRANICH
$14
54kg

Sales Information

12th 4. WICKLOW (IRE) 5yo G
TWILIGHT SON (GB) - WAKE UP (GER)
TOMMY BERRY
CHRIS WALLER
$5.5
55.5kg

Sales Information

13th 11. FULL PRESS (AUS) 6yo G
PRESS STATEMENT (AUS) - MAX IT OUT (AUS)
ADIN THOMPSON
BRETT DODSON
$201
53kg

Sales Information

14th 17. HIGH COURT (AUS) 8yo G
STAR WITNESS (AUS) - VENASSAS JIG (USA)
GRANT BUCKLEY
RODNEY NORTHAM
$151
52kg
15th 6. COMMANDO HUNT (AUS) 6yo G
TIME FOR WAR (AUS) - MISASIO (AUS)
REECE JONES
CAMERON CROCKETT
$101
54.5kg

Sales Information

16th 8. IKNOWASTAR (AUS) 4yo G
STAR WITNESS (AUS) - HIDDEN MESSAGE (NZ)
TYLER SCHILLER
BJORN BAKER
$5.5
53kg

Sales Information

17th 20. MANDERBOSS (NZ) 5yo G
VADAMOS (FR) - MODERN LADY (NZ)
QUAYDE KROGH
B JOSEPH & P & M JONES
$151
52kg

Sales Information

18th 18. UNAMERICAN (AUS) 7yo G
AMERICAIN (USA) - GOUJON (AUS)
ANNA ROPER
R & W FREEDMAN
$201
52kg

Sales Information

19th 15. PRINCE OF HELENA (AUS) 7yo G
SIDESTEP (AUS) - LADY OF HELENA (NZ)
JAKE DUFFY
CRAIG WEEDING
$19
52kg

Sales Information

20th 19. CRACKALACKA (AUS) 6yo M
POET'S VOICE (GB) - DIRECTLY (AUS)
MS MOLLY BOURKE
THERESA BATEUP
$101
52kg

Sales Information

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