Baker camp confident mare can break her maiden stepping out in distance

1 month ago 3

By Ray Hickson

January 13, 2026 — 5.45pm

It’s been very much a stop-start career so far for Unleeshing, but the Bjorn Baker team is excited to see what she can produce now she’s finally out in distance at Kensington on Wednesday.

While the four-year-old has raced only six times, she’s in her third preparation and Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said it’s been very much a waiting game to get her beyond a sprint trip.

After placings at 1200m and 1400m, the mare steps out in the Myplates Handicap (1550m) with some expectation on her shoulders.

“We always thought she would get a mile, we’ve just never had her up long enough to do it,” Hilton said.

“She’s done a lot of good things over shorter distances and finally here we are.

“She’s had a lot of little niggling things go wrong every time we’ve got going with her.”

Unleeshing won on debut back in May 2024 and was spelled. She was runner-up to Private Harry in December that year but her two runs this time in tell Hilton she’s a stronger mare now.

The signs were there the Dundeel was coming out in her when she resumed over 1200m at Warwick Farm and a month ago and was only getting warm at the finish.

She stepped up to Saturday grade and again showed she’s ready to win with an unlucky third behind Miss Spacegirl over 1400m, and now has the bonus of Sydney’s champion jockey taking the reins.

“She’s back in grade, back to midweek grade, she has a lovely gate, a small field, James McDonald. She ticks every box, ” Hilton said.

“She was unlucky last time, she didn’t get the breaks but was very honest.

“In both runs think time in she didn’t have the race shape to suit her, first-up they walked and sprinted and the other day she didn’t get a lot of room.

“She’s good enough to win a Saturday race, but it’s been a while since she won so Bjorn wanted to bring her back and get a win and we can go on to better things.

“I wouldn’t mind if she ended up three back the fence as long as she’s comfortable in her rhythm. I’d like James to ride her like the best horse and hopefully she’s too good.”