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Baker/Forsman spread troops for feature battles

3 minute read

Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman will chase Group features on three fronts on Saturday.

The Cambridge training partnership will produce Mime in the Gr.1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton, Group One winner Sakhee's Soldier in the Gr.2 Stella Artois Tauranga Stakes, fellow Group One winner Dal Cielo in the Gr.2 Sandown Guineas and Gr.2 Wellington Cup winner Maygrove in the Listed Sandown Cup.

Sakhee's Soldier winning the Rich Hill Mile Picture: Trish Dunell

"It's a busy weekend but we're happy with all of them," Baker said.

Dal Cielo will round out his Melbourne spring campaign in the Sandown Guineas (1600m), in which he will be ridden by Mark Zahra.

Baker said the Per Incanto colt had come through his sixth placing in the Gr.1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) in excellent order and was ready for the step back up in distance, this time without blinkers.

"He drew the outside in the Coolmore and there was an inside bias that day. He was wide out in the worst part of the track, but still finished sixth," Baker said.

"It was a good run and we've taken the blinkers off. That was the trouble in the Caulfield Guineas and he just over-raced. We'll ride him off the pace and hopefully he'll settle a lot better and that will give him his best chance at the mile. We're very happy with him."

Maygrove steps up to 3200m in the Sandown Cup after Group Three fourth placings in the Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington, the Geelong Cup (2400m) and the Bendigo Cup (2400m).

Dal Cielo winning the Haunui Farm Diamond Stakes Picture: Trish Dunell

"We're interested to see him run two miles. He's out of a Zabeel mare and his form leading in has been terrific," Baker said.

"It was a very good run at Bendigo. The winner [The Offer] has won a Sydney Cup and the second horse [Dandino] won last week at Flemington so the form has stacked up really well."

Baker will assess Maygrove's performance under Kerrin McEvoy on Saturday before deciding whether the Authorized five-year-old gelding backs up in Saturday week's Listed Ballarat Cup (2200m).

Closer to home, Baker and Forsman have given in-form filly Mime her shot at Classic success in the 1000 Guineas with Opie Bosson engaged to ride.

"She's a very good filly and her form has been excellent. She deserves her shot," Baker said.

Sakhee's Soldier finished seventh resuming at Ellerslie on slow going first-up but will strip a fitter horse for Saturday's Tauranga Stakes, Baker said.

"It was an off track first up and he should improve a ton with that. We've had to put an apprentice [Lee Magorrian] on for Saturday's race but I'd expect him to go well. He's a proven weight-for-age horse," Baker said.

Meanwhile, Turn Me Loose will return to New Zealand next Wednesday, with Baker preferring to spell the Emirates Stakes winner ahead of a Sydney autumn campaign rather than to press on to either Hong Kong or Perth this preparation.

Mongolian Khan remains under veterinary supervision at Werribee, though after speaking with vets on Thursday, Baker said he was "greatly improved".