Baker’s charge proves him wrong
Bjorn Baker was more than happy to be proved wrong by Kiss The Bride in testing conditions at Randwick on Saturday afternoon.
The Warwick Farm trainer didn’t rate the winning chances of the Waikato Stud sold son of Savabeel on a heavily rain-affected track in the closing event on the card over 1600 metres, but the gelding had other ideas.
Kiss The Bride was quickly into stride for rider Dylan Gibbons to sit in third spot on the fence and speared between runners in the straight to claim the eighth victory of his career.
“I gave him no chance, a couple of tipsters did so I take my hat off to them. I thought he would really struggle in that ground,” Baker said.
“He has got a lot of ability and is good second-up, but I found it hard to like him today.”
A $200,000 Karaka purchase for Baker and Blandford Bloodstock, Kiss The Bride was bred by the Matamata farm with New Plymouth trainer Allan Sharrock and they enjoyed a grand association with the dam I Do.
Successful in an edition of the G1 Makfi Challenge S., the No Excuse Needed mare delivered a daughter by Super Seth last year and is due to foal to the son of Dundeel this season.
Ocean Park Trans-Tasman Double
With Andrew Forsman’s 3yo Ocean Park filly Pine Leaf breaking her maiden by a widening four and a quarter-lengths in the last at Cambridge on Wednesday, celebrations continued as just ten minutes later it was the Chirs Waller trained Velaris who saluted at Canterbury with fellow Ocean Park runner I Park finishing a gallant third.
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Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle
A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.
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