Baker looking for million dollar pay days

Sunday 8 December 2013, 3:18pm

Australia's two richest sales related races are firmly in the sights of trainer Bjorn Baker.

Unencumbered cemented himself as a genuine contender for next month's $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast with his second win from three starts at Randwick on Saturday.

His year-older Group Two winning stablemate Twilight Royale is being readied for a return to the stable ahead of her bid for a $2.4 million William Inglis bonus if she can win the Scone Guineas in May.

Twilight Royale is the winner of three of her seven starts and boasts a victory over subsequent Cox Plate winner Shamus Award in the VRC Sires' Produce Stakes.

The filly was unplaced in two spring starts but Baker said she had done well since and he was looking forward to her return.

"She is in pre-training with Rodney Northam at Scone and is doing very well," Baker said.

"We haven't set her program yet heading to Scone."

The program for Unencumbered includes the Wyong Magic Millions on December 19 with the $2 million Magic Millions Classic on January 8 at the Gold Coast.

"As long as he comes through OK he will go to Wyong," Baker said,

"The 12 days between runs will suit him.

"He is a very nice horse and it's great because there are a lot of first time owners in him."

Both Unencumbered and Twilight Royale are by Vinery stallion Testa Rossa.

Unencumbered was a $70,000 yearling and has earned twice his purchase price while Twilight Royale cost just $45,000 and has so far returned her owners almost $500,000.

The Magic Millions is restricted to horses sold through the Magic Millions sales company while the Inglis bonus is part of a series for those sold by William Inglis.

Baker is one trainer who won't be too unhappy about the switch of Saturday's Villiers meeting to Randwick's Kensington track.

Because of the change, the Listed Razor Sharp will be shortened from 1200 metres to 1150m, closer to veteran sprinter Zaratone's comfort range.

The eight-year-old has won 17 races, 10 at 1100 metres and just three at distances beyond that.

– AAP

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