Written by Richard Edmunds
Images courtesy of AAP Photos
On the same day that his father Murray added another G2 Tulloch S. win to his extensive collection of Australian carnival trophies, Bjorn Baker pulled off a training masterstroke of his own at Rosehill on Saturday.
Baker threw in-form mare Positive Peace (Stratum) in at the deep end, making her black-type debut in the G2 Jim Beam Emancipation S. The gamble paid off with a highly impressive victory, setting up a possible shot at the G1 Coolmore Legacy at Randwick on April 11.
“Bjorn has had a bit of a throw at the stumps today up in class, but she got the job done,” stable representative Steve McLean said. “Never doubt the man.
“I think she has probably done it (progressed to stakes class) a bit quicker than Bjorn thought she would, but he has always held her in high regard.
Tim Clark aboard Positive Peace | Image courtesy of AAP Photos
“A big thanks and a well done to Steve and Louise Gillard (owners) and all of the team back home.
“It was touch and go whether she would go to the paddock after her last win, but she’s done nothing wrong and we couldn’t fault her one bit.
“She’s nominated for the Coolmore Legacy in two weeks. Who knows – if she continues to thrive, Bjorn might go again.”
Positive Peace made a relatively low-key start to her career, with her first 12 starts producing three victories at Orange, Goulburn and Wyong.
But the 4-year-old has turned a corner in her current campaign, stringing together five consecutive victories. She started off with wins at Warwick Farm and the Kensington track before winning three in a row at Rosehill.
Saturday’s was the most significant and the most impressive. Ridden by Tim Clark, she stalked the front-running Amangiri (All Too Hard) before pouncing at the home turn and taking the lead in a powerful move.
Mares lined up across the track to try to run her down through the last 200 metres of the race, but Positive Peace stayed well out of their reach and won by 1.25l.
Bought for $260,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Positive Peace has now had 17 starts for eight wins, four seconds and $370,815 in stakes, with an all-important black-type victory to her name.
Positive Peace as a yearling
“She’s just in great form,” Clark said. “Well done to Bjorn and his team, they've got her absolutely flying.
“I couldn’t hold her slow enough mid race – she was absolutely jogging. I knew she was rock-hard fit as well, while the leader was first-up, and obviously Sweet Deal had that break between runs. So, from the 600, I wanted to make sure it was a good gallop and try and make them catch her if they could and she was so strong. She’s in unbelievable form.
“Not many can win five in a row anywhere, let alone in Sydney, so she obviously has come back a stronger mare this time in and she is racing through her grades really well.
“Not many can win five in a row anywhere, let alone in Sydney, so she obviously has come back a stronger mare this time in and she is racing through her grades really well." - Tim Clark
“That is an important win for her, but there is no reason why today is going to be the end of her winning streak either. She’s just going that well, and I’m sure Bjorn will find a suitable race for her to attack again.”
