With over 500 wins and millions of dollars in prize money, Bjorn Baker is one the more known trainers on both sides of the ditch.
The New Zealand-born trainer’s foray into Australia has been mighty successful after he came over following a three year partnership with his father that saw Baker Racing win more prize money than any other New Zealand based stable.
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We sat down with Bjorn – who will be training our Rubick x Slainte filly at Warwick Farm – to find out which races were his personal favourites.
Doomben 10,000 with Music Magnate (2016)
It will always be hard for Bjorn to top his first ever Group 1 win. Music Magnate capped-off one of the best ever seasons for Bjorn with his maiden Group One victory in the Doomben 10,000. The four-year-old managed to hold off Azkadellia ($3.80) and Charlie Boy ($18) in the $750,000 event which proved quite significant for Music Magnate who continued to build quite the record.
Music Magnate takes out the G1 #Doomben1000!!
Congratulations to @BBakerRacing on claiming his first Group 1 win!https://t.co/wUXMVB5vhZ
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 28, 2016
Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Unencumbered (2014)
Winning Queensland’s richest event ($2,000,000) is not something every trainer can tick off their list and definitely not in such emphatic style as Unencumbered in 2014. Chasing down Oakleigh Girl ($7) to hit the front and draw clear for a three quarter length win, Unencumbered also managed to beat fellow miRunners’ trainer Gai Waterhouse’s Cyclone ($13) which finished fourth.
VRC Derby with Lion Tamer (2010)
Bjorn would never be forgiven by his father Murray if their combined win at Australia’s oldest Classic wasn’t in his top five greatest wins. With an underrated colt in Lion Tamer shooting five lengths clear by the 200m mark in wet conditions, the win was a long-held dream of Murray’s.
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“I remember asking my father as a child, I said ‘what race do you want to win the most?’ and he said the VRC Derby,” explained Bjorn.
As memorable as they come!
Luke Bennett Plumbing Benchmark 60 Handicap with Skygaze (2001)
Who would have thought that a gelding purchased by Bjorn for $6,000 would come to be the trainer’s first ever winner as a stand-alone trainer, taking out a 2000m race at Bathurst.
Group 2 Champagne Stakes with Winning Rupert (2016)
Probably the fastest horse Bjorn every had the chance to train, Winning Rupert blitzed the field at Doomben on the way to a win that was very impressive on the eye and on the clock: breaking the track record in the process. A wonderful horse, he is now retired to stud with five wins from six starts and two track records.
If you want to own a good-looking filly trained by Bjorn Baker, you can purchase an ownership unit in Rubick x Slainte for just $275. Monthly fees are $15 per month for your first unit and $5 for any additional unit.
