Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
After a massive week overseeing a bunch of high-class winners, the Bjorn Baker stable is ready to impress yet again both on and off the track during the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Carnival.
If O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) saluting in the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic and Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) taking out the $500,000 Inglis Nursery weren’t enough, the team will head to the Glitter Strip confident of picking up more wins and promising yearlings.
The Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale kicks off on January 7th, and the Baker team has been flat out doing its homework.
Bloodstock Agent Jim Clarke and Client Relationship Manager Georgia Griffin joined Baker in casting their eyes over 900 yearlings over the past two weeks.
Baker is determined to repeat his 2014 Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) in next year’s edition on January 11.
Bjorn Baker and Jim Clarke inspecting yearlings at Kia Ora | Image courtesy of Kia Ora Stud
“We had a big two weeks. We started in Queensland and did the majority of farms up there, and spent some time in the Southern Highlands,” Clarke told The Thoroughbred Report.
“We went out to the Central West at Newhaven, Twin Hills and Bowness, and we spent all of last week in the Hunter Valley.
“We saw about 900 horses, and we’ve probably got about a third of those to see a second time (before reaching the Gold Coast).”
“We saw about 900 horses, and we’ve probably got about a third of those to see a second time (before reaching the Gold Coast).” - Jim Clarke
A total of 1401 lots will be up for auction at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and Clarke has the progeny of some well-known stallions in mind.
“In terms of young progeny of stallions, I like Ole Kirk,” he said.
“We’ve had a good start with him with O’ Ole, who’s heading up to the Gold Coast.
“I was quite interested to have a look at what he had on the ground this year.
Jim Clarke with Ole Kirk and the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic Trophy | Image courtesy of Vinery Stud
“Of the first-season stallions, Stay Inside and Home Affairs are the big two – they’ve both thrown very nice yearlings.”
Clarke added that stallions Farnan, Alabama Express and Pierata – all with progeny at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale – were also set for bright futures at stud.
“The likes of Farnan and Ole Kirk, and Alabama Express has made a very good start. Pierata is going quite well,” he said.
“So it would be a good thing for our industry if a few of those young horses could really put their hands up and build on the promising starts they’ve made.
“So it would be a good thing for our industry if a few of those young horses (Farnan, Ole Kirk and Alabama Express) could really put their hands up and build on the promising starts they’ve made.” - Jim Clarke
“At the moment there’s a gap between the older, elite proven stallions like Zoustar, Snitzel and Written Tycoon.
“There’s a fairly significant drop down, I think, to the next level of proven stallions.
“So I’d be hopeful that a couple of these young horses can really start to fire as early as the Magic Millions.”
Clarke said the Baker stable had enjoyed “a breakthrough year”, with the recent victories of O’ Ole and Within The Law among the highlights.
Overpass’s (Vancouver) win in the G1 Winterbottom S. for Darby Racing at Ascot on November 30 is also a part of that recent success, while Stefi Magnetica (All Too Hard) defeated superstar Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) to claim victory in the $3 million G1 Stradbroke H. at Eagle Farm on June 15.
“We’ve got a small team, but we’re pretty diligent. No one works harder than Bjorn, and with my role in the sales and recruitment side of things we’ve got good systems in place,” Clarke said.
“We’re pretty thorough with our research, and you’re always looking for ways where you can improve.
“There’s never going to be an end to that, but we’re certainly pleased with the way the season’s unfolded.
“Bjorn and his team have had a pretty remarkable year; it’s been a breakthrough year.
“Even though he’s built every year since he started in my early days as his racing manager.”
Clarke said Baker had a focus on consistently producing quality over quantity.
“One of the biggest advantages that Bjorn has got is he’s based solely at Warwick Farm,” he said.
“He’s there every morning. All the horses he trains are under his eye, and the watchful eye of his team that supports him.
“One of the biggest advantages that Bjorn has got is he’s based solely at Warwick Farm. He’s there every morning. All the horses he trains are under his eye, and the watchful eye of his team that supports him.” - Jim Clarke
“It’s not a super stable in terms of numbers, but the number of horses that we recruit each year and that Bjorn trains – his performances and results speak for themselves.
“We’re not looking to change that. We’re just looking to continue to build, attract more quality and win better races.”
Young stars shining bright
O’ Ole recording her maiden win in her third start in the Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic has the Baker stable confident he can follow the same path Unencumbered navigated when he won that race en-route to his salute in the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic.
“She’s always shown us plenty. She was second in the Gimcrack, and it (last start at Wyong) was probably the first time out of three starts where she’s drawn a gate (three),” Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, told The Thoroughbred Report.
“And we were just able to let her be wherever she wanted to be. There was no push or pull – she lobbed outside of the leader with no work and was nice and strong late, which was good.
“She’s had a few tricky gates in her first two and got it right the other day.
“The true lead-up races, obviously the Gimcrack and the Magic Millions at Wyong, are great guides.
“Bjorn’s followed that path with Unencumbered. He won it and went on to win the Millions.”
Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased 2-year-old filly O'Ole for $325,000 from Gilgai Farm at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
O' Ole as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Hilton said her calmness was one of her best assets.
“She’s very professional. She’s got a great temperament at home, and she’s getting better and better all the time,” he said.
“So I think there’s more improvement to come, and more racing seems to be better for her.”
Horseshoe Hill (All Too Hard) is another promising 2-year-old filly for the Baker stable, running third in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Luke Hilton | Image courtesy of Bjorn Baker Racing
Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA)/Cunningham bought her for $200,000 from Widden Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“She’s very promising. She’s gone to the paddock. She’ll have a good break and we’ll probably look to see her potentially late autumn, and maybe into the winter,” Hilton said.
“She’s (Horseshoe Hill) very promising. She’s gone to the paddock. She’ll have a good break and we’ll probably look to see her potentially late autumn, and maybe into the winter.” - Luke Hilton
Within The Law will aim to become the first horse to win the $2m Inglis Triple Crown following her victory in Saturday’s $500,000 Inglis Nursery at Randwick.
The 2-year-old filly's next assignment will be the $2 million Inglis Millenium, also at Randwick on February 8.
She was purchased for just $30,000 by Darby Racing from Yulong at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, showing admirable toughness to push her way past colt Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel) and salute on Saturday.
“That (toughness) is very typical of the horse she is, and how she’s been all the way along,” Hilton said.
Within The Law, winner of the Inglis Nursery at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She’s very different to O’ Ole. Within The Law doesn’t set the track alight at home, and hasn’t been a superstar from day one.
“But she’s just gone on with the job and just got better and better, and she brings her absolute best to the races.
“She’s a real professional with a great attitude and she’s extremely tough. You saw that on Saturday – she just shoved one of the big colts out of the way.”
Darby Racing 'just keep doing it' and pick up star bargains
Within The Law now has $593,000 in total prizemoney after also winning on debut in the $500,000 Inglis Banner 2YO at Flemington on November 9.
Hilton said Darby Racing director Scott Darby had an outstanding ability to pick out potential elite horses at bargain prices.
Hilton also pointed out that Darby Racing’s 3-year-old filly Magical Moments (Winning Rupert) would be one to watch after winning a $60,000 super maiden over 1250 metres at Newcastle on December 7.
She was picked up for just $11,000 by Darby Racing from Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the 2023 Inglis May Yearling Sale.
“Amazing. They just keep on doing it, don’t they? A filly won a super maiden last week at Newcastle and she was an ($11,000) buy,” he said.
“Amazing. They (Darby Racing) just keep on doing it, don’t they? A filly won a super maiden last week at Newcastle and she was an ($11,000) buy.” - Luke Hilton
“She (Within The Law) has won almost $600,000 now, so it’s hard to believe that they can do it, but they keep doing it.
“Scott Darby and his team are doing an amazing job.
“Obviously, Overpass was $75,000 when he went through. So they’re continually finding these horses at value.”
Robusto (Churchill {Ire}) took his career prizemoney to $1,881,850 with his victory in the $2 million G2 The Ingham over a mile at Randwick on Saturday.
The 5-year-old gelding was bred by the Ingham family, who raced him up until selling him for $160,000 to Darby Bloodstock on Inglis Digital in September.
“He’s just getting better and better. His runs have all been really good for us,” Hilton said.
“We’ve always had to ride him a touch more negative than we’d like to just because of the gates.
“And if we’re ever going to draw a gate, I would’ve picked the Ingham to draw one.
“And he drew low, so it was a completely different story on Saturday.
Robusto clears away in the G2 Ingham at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“There were question marks at the mile, but we knew he was going to get every chance from gate four.”
The Baker stable also enjoyed wins by gelding Insain (Zousain) and filly Scalable (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) – both 3-year-olds – at Hawkesbury trials on Monday.
Scalable was a $70,000 purchase by Swettenham Stud/John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) from Eureka Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, and Insain was picked up for $85,000 by Michael Costa Racing from Yarraman Park Stud at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“Scalable’s a lovely filly. She’s very progressive. She’s shown us a lot all through her few campaigns now,” Hilton said.
“Bjorn’s just given her that necessary time knowing she was going to be better as she got older and over further.
“We were really impressed. She’s doing a really good job.
“Insain was somewhat of a surprise package. He’s very big and very immature.
“He’s taken time, and he hasn’t shown the sharpness that he showed today.
“So we were really impressed with him.”
