3 minute read

New Zealand-bred galloper Shock Alert recorded his fifth career win when successful over a mile on his home-track on Wednesday.

And in the process provided Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker with his 100th winner in New South Wales for the season.

The Kiwi conditioner has made his presence felt since relocating to Sydney in August 2011 and currently sits sixth on the New South Wales trainers’ premiership by wins, trailing powerhouse stables such as Chris Waller, James Cummings, Kris Lees, Peter and Paul Snowden and Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

Positively ridden by stable apprentice Jean Van Overmeire, Shock Alert staved off the challengers to provide Baker with his second winner for the day and 100th for the season in his adopted State.

“It’s quite fitting that Jean rode him,” Baker said. “He’s a big part of the team. He’s doing a super job and it has been a break-out year for him too.

“I’ve got a great team of staff back home from top to bottom. It’s not easy at this time of the year. There is a lot of hard work and cold mornings, so it is nice for Shock Alert, who has been in the stable for a while, to win that city race.”

A son of Rich Hill Stud stallion Shocking, Shock Alert was bought by Baker for NZ$110,000 at the New Zeeland Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale and the four-year-old has won close to A$130,000 to date.

“I thought he was fit and well but his form on wet tracks had been a bit patchy,” Baker said. “Back on top of the ground, the key to him has been fine weather this past week.

“I think we will put him up in trip even further, up to 2000m, and he has definitely got a few more wins left, so he has been a good horse.”

It is the third season in succession that Baker has trained a century of winners in New South Wales, with the effervescent horseman having prepared 102 winners nationally this season and prizemoney earnings in excess of $5.3 million.