Bjorn Baker and Gaelic Puzzle

Bjorn Baker began his training career in 2007 under the mentorship of his father Murray, one of New Zealand’s most-successful trainers. In both the 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons, Baker Racing won more prize money than any other New Zealand stable. For three seasons Bjorn continued his partnership with his father, winning more than 30 Stake Races.

Since starting his own stables and basing himself in Sydney, Bjorn has produced many exciting runners and winners, including Winning Rupert, Unencumbered, Twilight Royale and Champagne Cuddles. Bjorn claimed his first Group One win in the Doomben 10,000 in 2016 with Music Magnate. 

And at the 2019 Magic Millions meet on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Bjorn graced the winning podium twice, winning the $1m Magic Millions Snippets with 6yo mare Egyptian Symbol and the Magic Millions Cup with 5yo gelding Redouble. Out of his four runners on the day, Baker had two wins, a close-second and a fourth, making it a truly remarkable Magic Millions Race Day for Baker Racing.

Bjorn trains miRunners horse Gaelic Puzzle (formerly known as Rubick x Slainte.)

Sire

Rubick is the highest-rated 2YO colt of his generation and is the most precocious son of Champion sire Encosta De Lago. Over his three year career, Rubick had just eight race starts and managed to win a Group Two and a Group Three race. He recorded an impressive $379,000 worth of prize money in his short career before he was retired in 2015 to stud.

Encosta De Lago was the leading Australian sire in 2008 and 2009 and boasts an incredible list of Group 1 winning progeny. From his eight race starts, he came away with three wins and three placings, accumulating in excess of AU$460 000 in prize money over his short racing career. The most famous progeny sired by Encosta De Lago was champion Australian sprinter Chautauqua, who retired just a few months ago. The eight-year-old gelding boasts six Group One wins and seven Group One placings from sixteen starts. Over his racing career, he won in excess of AU$8.8 million in prize money.

Dam

Her dam, Slainte, by Not A Single Doubt out of Academy Angel, was big, strong, athletic and extremely fast. She too broke track records over 1,000 metres and showed the explosive speed her sireline is renowned for.