Cover image courtesy of Bjorn Baker Racing
Baker updated The Thoroughbred Report on plans for his stable's established stars and promising 3-year-olds. He also offered insight into the next generation, including four newly turned 2-year-olds, who could be ones to watch this season.
Bjorn Baker | Image courtesy of Bjorn Baker Racing
Older horses
Overpass, 7-year-old gelding (Vanvouver x Walkway {Exceed And Excel})
“He is in great order, coming up nicely, he will follow the exact same path as last year in terms of getting to the Everest consolation.
“Obviously, he is half a chance of making it to The Everest on his TJ Smith run.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“He will then go to the Sydney Stakes, Josh Parr is booked to ride, and then, as opposed to last year, he will go straight to The Winterbottom after that race. If it was wet in Sydney, we may give some consideration to the Manikato in Melbourne.”
Arapaho (Fr), 9-year-old gelding (Lope De Vega (Ire) x Alzubra (GB) {Dansili {GB}})
“He returned great last week, he has come through that run well. He is going to go to the Chelmsford on September 6th.
“He will head towards Melbourne, for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup, all going well. He is also going to be entered for the Cox Plate, and we wouldn’t be completely ruling out that.”
Arapaho (Fr) | Image courtesy of Sportspix
Stefi Magnetica, 5-year-old mare (All Too Hard x Mid Summer Music {Oamaru Force})
“She is really exciting. She will go to the Theo Marks on September 13th. She looks fantastic, and I am really happy with the way she is coming up, we can’t fault her.
“We would love to get to the King Charles on Everest Day over a mile with her.”
Stefi Magnetica | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pericles, 6-year-old gelding (Street Boss (USA) x Accessories (GB) {Singspiel {Ire}})
“Exciting pickup from Godolphin, he will have a good gallop on Tuesday before going to the Tramway Stakes on September 6th.
“Josh Parr is booked to ride, obviously, he is a very well-performed son of Street Boss, and it is exciting to have him in the stable.
“A good race for him could be the King Charles on Everest Day over a mile."
Pericles | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Caballus, 5-year-old gelding (I Am Invincible x Calming Influence {Commands})
“He is back in after winning a stakes race at Scone, possibly on the Sydney Stakes path, he could well be there first up.”
Caballus | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Iowna Merc, 6-year-old gelding (Winning Rupert x Mercedes {Snitzel})
“The winner of over a million dollars for Darby racing is going to trial next week, he will possibly go to the Premier Stakes, and once again, the Sydney Stakes path.
“He has been a great performer for the stable and has won a Group 3, a Group 2 and a Listed race. It would be amazing to win a Group 1 with him, but I'm not quite sure he is up to that mark.”
Iowna Merc | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Robusto, 6-year-old gelding (Churchill (Ire) x She’s Clean {Redoute’s Choice})
“He was honest in The Winx Stakes, and he will possibly head to the Tramway or the Theo Marks, but he is in great order and looks well.
“He has been running well. I would love to get him to the Alan Brown in early October.”
Robusto | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Spring Lee, 5-year-old mare (Zoustar x Wild Rain {Manhattan Rain})
“She is possibly going to kick off in the Concorde next Saturday, she is in great order.”
Spring Lee | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Shezanalister, 6-year-old mare (Star Turn x Filomena’s Grace {Love Conquers All})
“She is another horse that will be featuring in the fillies and mares stakes races through the carnival, possibly even a Sydney Stakes.”
Shezanalister | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Sandpaper, 6-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Smooth {Lonhro})
“He did a marvellous job last preparation, we will look to get him into a race like the Alan Brown for $1.5 million. He is an exciting horse, and hopefully he can take that next step.”
Sandpaper | Image courtesy of Sportpix
4-year-olds
Raikkonen, 4-year-old gelding (Shalaa (Ire) x Miss Scandinavia {Smart Missile})
“A very well-performed 4-year-old, he will be on a Silver Eagle path and is likely to have a run over 1200 metres before the Silver Eagle on Everest Day. Ideally, he goes into The Golden Eagle.
“A lovely big, strong horse and another good horse for Darby Racing.”
Raikkonen | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Imperial Force, 4-year-old gelding (Snitzel x Ultimate Fever {Gold Fever {USA}})
“He came second in the Arrowfield Stud Stakes and is another really promising horse. We may even head to the Silver Eagle or the Sydney Stakes, and we possibly wouldn’t rule out trying to get to the Golden Eagle.”
Imperial Force | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Perfumist (NZ), 4-year-old mare (El Roca x Taupputi (NZ) {Swiss Ace})
“She is running again on Saturday, she is a good filly, I think she needed the run first up, and possibly if everything works out, I would love to get her into stakes races for fillies and mares, and I think she is well up to that.”
Perfumist (NZ) | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Point And Shoot, 4-year-old gelding (Blue Point (Ire) x Watchmespin {Sepoy})
“He didn’t fire on Saturday, but was still happy with him, I think once he gets up to 1400 and a mile on top of the ground, he will be much better placed.”
Point And Shoot | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Dance To The Boom, 4-year-old mare (Exceeedance x Bim Bam Boom {I Am Invincible})
“She is in great order, she is running on Saturday and has previously won the Gosford Guineas. I think she is going super, and is a great chance on Saturday.”
Dance To The Boom | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
3-year-olds
Within The Law, 3-year-old filly (Lucky Vega (Ire) x Contract Signed {Dundeel {NZ}})
“I thought she was super on Saturday. She is an iron horse, and the 2kg she had to give away really made a difference. She will go to The Furious, the Tea Rose, and the Flight. She will follow the fillies series.
“I think once she gets up to 1400 metres and a mile, she will be lethal, she is very exciting.”
Within The law | Image courtesy of Sportpix
O’ Ole, 3-year-old filly (Ole Kirk x Vellor {Sepoy})
“O’ Ole will trial next week, the Magic Millions winner hasn’t been seen since then. I am really happy with how she is going, she is a quality filly, and great to have around, very straight forward.
“We may look possibly towards the Coolmore, but we will take it one step at a time. Probably initially she will kept to the short courses anyway. We still have the option of the Magic Millions, maybe longer term, or even the new slot race, the Sunlight.”
O'ole | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Strada Varenna, 3-year-old filly (Street Boss (USA) x Varenna Miss {Redoute’s Choice})
“Strada Varenna came fourth in the Magic Night last preparation, she has won one from three, is coming up in great order, but she is a bit further off.”
Strada Verenna | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
2-year-olds
King Of The Nile, 2-year-old colt (I Am Invincible x Giza Goddess (USA) {Cairo Prince {USA}})
Purchased for $800,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Lty (FBAA) from the Newgate farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“A horse called King Of The Nile by I Am Invincible is coming along nicely. He looks to have good ability.”
King Of The Nile as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Paradoxium, 2-year-old colt (Extreme Choice x Paredo {Better Than Ready})
Purchased for $400,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing, Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) and Ridgmont from the Silverdale farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have a lovely Extreme Choice colt called Paradoxium, he is a great type and is going well.”
Paradoxium as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ozzbourne, 2-year-old colt (Zoustar x No More Tears (NZ) {Darci Brahma {NZ}})
Purchased for $350,000 by Darby Racing, Bjorn Baker Racing, and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) from The Chase draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
“We have a full brother to Ozzmosis called Osbourne, he is a really nice horse.”
Ozzbourne as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Masvingo, 2-year-old filly (Zoustar x Rotator {Not A Single Doubt})
Purchased for $580,000 by Ridgmont Fillies Partnership and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) from the Silverdale Farm draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
“We have a lovely daughter of Zoustar called Masvingo, she is showing some really nice ability.”
Masvingo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
