Bjorn Baker has made major inroads since moving to Sydney. (Picture Gregg Porteous)

His father’s advice seemed harsh at the time, but it was a classic case of being cruel to be kind.

That’s exactly Bjorn Baker’s interpretation when recalling his decision to walk away from a successful training partnership with his father, Murray — one of the legends of New Zealand racing.

It was five years ago when they had a conversation that would change the future for both of them. Bjorn, young and ambitious, wanted to relocate to Sydney to establish his own training business. His father’s reaction was typically forthright.

“Dad just said, ‘If you go then you are on your own’,” Bjorn said. “It didn’t particularly surprise me he said that, either.’’

If life is about seizing the moment, Bjorn wasn’t going to let this chance slip by no matter how hard it was going to be for him.

“Looking back now, I think it was probably the best piece of advice Dad has ever given me,’’ he said. “It has made me stand on my own two feet.’’

Baker arrived in Sydney four years ago with two horses, no owners and uncertain career prospects.

Fast forward to today, Baker has 60 in work at Warwick Farm, a growing clientele base, is entrenched in Sydney’s top 10 premiership standings, and is on the verge of a breakthrough Group 1 success with Gold Ambition in the $500,000 Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.

“When I came to Sydney I had to be as aggressive as I could to make it happen,’’ Baker said. “I could not be happier with the decision I’ve made and how it has worked out — it just shows you what opportunities there are in Sydney if you are prepared to work hard.

“Of course, you also need a bit of luck, too.”

Baker admitted he could have chosen an easier jurisdiction to train than Sydney but felt he wanted to prove himself in the toughest environment in Australian racing.

“Sydney racing is not easy, there is no kidding yourself, you need quality horses to win races,” he said. “To me, the great thing about Sydney racing is wherever you go from here you know your horses will be competitive because it is like a step backwards.

“But I’m always looking for improvement. There is no sitting back and relaxing, because you need to be improving all the time and working out ways to get getter. It is the only way to ensure you can be competitive in Sydney racing.”

Baker revealed it is rival Chris Waller’s success that inspired him to try his luck in Sydney. Waller made the move from New Zealand a decade before Baker, arriving with virtually nothing but now boasting the most dominant racing stable in the southern hemisphere.

“Chris Waller is the benchmark in Sydney racing with his achievement and his success,’’ Baker said. “I’ve watched what he is doing and the whole time I have been here I have been looking at ways to get better and be competitive.

“The good thing from a horse training point of view is you need to try things and think outside the square. I have learned a heck of a lot in four years. I would not have learned as much if I had gone anywhere else.’’

In a touch of irony, Baker needs to beat Waller to lift the Spring Champion Stakes trophy at Royal Randwick.

Bjorn with his father Murray Baker and former star Nom Du Jeu

Waller’s Vanbrugh is a dominant favourite at $1.80 to win the three-year-old classic while Gold Ambition is rated a $17 chance.

Gold Ambition ran fifth, more than five lengths behind Vanbrugh in the Gloaming Stakes last start, but Baker believes his gelding can make up the difference.

“The Randwick 2000m will suit him a lot better than the Rosehill 1800m,’’ Baker added. “This will be more of a staying test (Saturday). The last time at Rosehill he was left a little flat-footed.”

Baker believes Gold Ambition’s staying ability could bring about an upset — something his family achieved with It’s A Dundeel in the same race three years ago.

It’s A Dundeel, trained by Murray Baker, was sent out $6.50 second favourite for the Spring Champion but, using superior stamina and acceleration, overwhelmed $1.30 hotpot Proisir.

“Gold Ambition is in good order,’’ Baker said. “He has taken a long time to come right this preparation but he is looking good now, he is starting to blossom.

“I was even thinking of giving him an (exhibition) gallop between races last Monday but it was a little on the hot side.

“The key to him is he is a lovely, relaxed horse, there are no problems with him switching off so that will help him. He has a great staying pedigree and that will hold him in good stead, too.”

Gold Ambition is the first horse Baker has trained for Chinese owner An Zhi Qiang.

“Mr An hasn’t seen Gold Ambition race before but he is coming to Sydney for the Spring Champion,’’ Baker said. “He is from Inner Mongolia, owns his own racetrack over there and has bought a number of horses from Australia to send up there. He has been a big investor in our racing industry.”

The Spring Champion Stakes is the last Group 1 in Sydney this year but it could also provide Bjorn with his first major.

“I’ve had four Group 2 winners since I have been in Sydney, the next step is a Group 1,” he said. “I had four in partnership with my father — including the (2010) Victoria Derby with Lion Tamer — but it would be great to get a Group 1 in my own right.”

MUSIC ON SONG TO HIT NEW HIGH NOTE

TRAINER Bjorn Baker sounded an ominous warning to rivals when he declared promising sprinter Music Magnate “ready to go to a new level” ahead of his Royal Randwick race on Saturday.

Music Magnate, an impressive last-start winner at Rosehill, is striving to maintain momentum in the Cellarbrations October Handicap (1400m).

“This horse is going super, he is looking better all the time,’’ Baker said. “He’s been a bit like Gold Ambition, he has been a little bit behind in his coat. But he looks fantastic now and is ready to go to a new level.’’

Music Magnate, $2.60 favourite for tomorrow’s race, has only been to the races eight times for three wins and four placings but Baker has always had a big opinion of the four-year-old gelding.

“We have given him plenty of time to mature but he has always shown us plenty of ability,’’ Baker said. “I’m sure the best is yet to come with this horse.’’

The same could be said of Herne’s Oak, one of the leading chances at $7 in early markets for the Myer Spring Fashion Handicap (2000m).

Herne’s Oak is a four-year-old son of High Chaparral and boasts four wins from 12 starts.

His form this campaign has been excellent, including a Rosehill win over Dance Of Heroes before a close third to Mr One Eleven and Dance Of Heroes at Rosehill two weeks.

“Herne’s Oak has been very consistent this preparation,’’ Baker said. “He is an improving horse and will go very well again.’’

Candelara, winner of the Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes last autumn, has had two runs since a spell and is ready to produce something like her best form in the Group 3 $125,000 Angst Stakes (1600m).

“She has been a good mare and is back on track now,’’ the trainer said.

Baker has made a solid start to the new season with the aim of maintaining his position among Sydney’s top 10 trainers.

“I had 26 metropolitan wins last season and it is my goal to try and get more than 30 this season,’’ Baker said. “The stable did have a slow start last season but we are going better this season.’’

Baker’s determination to be among Sydney’s leading trainers even has him baulking at a Melbourne spring carnival raid in coming weeks.

“It would be nice to get one or two to Melbourne but they have to be realistic chances,’’ he said. “I’m mindful that every time you go away you are weakening your chances of finishing higher on the premiership ladder.’’