Baker on target for Winter Challenge with warhorse and dynamite prospect

The Bjorn Baker stable believes the return of blinkers has helped veteran War Eternal find peak form, while the best is yet to come from Midnight Dynamite, as the pair strive to give the Warwick Farm operation back-to-back Winter Challenge wins.

Baker won the listed 1500m race at Rosehill last year with Robusto, which is being aimed at a late spring or summer campaign.

Midnight Dynamite and War Eternal give Baker genuine chances to claim the race on Saturday after each scoring three wins and two placings across their past five starts.

Four-year-old Midnight Dynamite easily won the listed Civic Stakes (1400m) two starts ago and was then third in the Winter Stakes (1400m) after coming from back in the field from a poor draw.

With a handy draw in six this time, Midnight Dynamite was into a $3.60 favourite with Tommy Berry back from holidays to ride.

“Midnight Dynamite had to go back further than what he’s used to, so he’s got a better draw on Saturday, and his work on Tuesday was great,” Baker assistant trainer Luke Hilton said.

“He still seems like he’s really in the zone, so we’ll find out Saturday.

“I still think we haven’t probably seen the best of him. Potentially next prep, there’s still more to come.”

At seven, War Eternal has returned to his best late in a marathon campaign which started in January. He was third in the Hawkesbury Cup before reeling off three listed race wins and a second in Queensland.

Hilton said the addition in late March of blinkers, for the first time in four years, has proved pivotal. Rachel King rides the $11 chance with 60.5 kilograms and gate eight.

“He’s in career-best form and it’s just been the key to him since we’ve put the blinkers on,” he said.

“They’ve definitely switched him on and hopefully he can continue his form on Saturday.

“He’s had 12 runs this preparations, so he’s definitely a war horse, but he couldn’t be going any better.”

Both were scratched from the South Grafton Cup last Sunday because of poor barriers, but Hilton said another Big Dance qualifier, the Coffs Harbour Cup on August 7, was a likely next target.

Baker also has twin chances in the last, a 1200m benchmark 78 for the boys, with Snack Bar ($5.50) and Stardeel ($15).

Snack Bar showed a return to form last start with a third, while Stardeel has a tricky draw in 11 to overcome.

“Snack Bar was a lot better, he just probably doesn’t appreciate when he’s exposed too much,” he said.

“I think gate two is a big advantage for him. You can never go to the races confident, but I feel like he’s back on track.

“Stardeel, I think we’d probably go back. We rode him quiet first-up, so we might look to do the same again.

“He ran on well and won that day. He didn’t appreciate rolling forward the other day.”