Baker pair close to their best for shot at $500,000 Lakes at Wyong

1 month ago 17

By Craig Kerry

January 9, 2026 — 5.00pm

Bjorn Baker believes Amor Victorious is “very close” to his best in his comeback from injury, while Robusto can never be written off as the Warwick Farm trainer chases the $500,000 The Lakes Mile at Wyong on Saturday.

The Darby Racing pair were on the second line of betting at $6 (TAB) on Friday for the feature, which was down to just 10 runners after multiple scratchings. Favourite Know Thyself was into $2.90.

Josh Parr drives Robusto, right, to the line to edge out Accredited in the Winter Challenge at Rosehill.

The withdrawals improved the chances of Robusto, which has the outside gate when he attempts to go one better than last year’s effort behind Waterford in the inaugural running of the Lakes. That run ended a campaign which included victory in the $2 million Ingham and second in the Festival Stakes and The Buffering.

He was runner-up again in The Buffering at Eagle Farm last start. This time, though, the six-year-old has just one week, not two, to recover ahead of the Lakes, and he carries 61 kilograms, up two from last year. Josh Parr has the ride.

Baker said there was not too much between his pair and “you can never write off Robusto”.

“His run last week was great,” Baker said.

“It is a bit of a question mark how he will back up, but you couldn’t knock his last-start effort. He was four deep the trip and his form is impeccable this time in.”

As for getting forward from the gate, he said: “I’ll just leave it up to Josh, he’ll work it out. He’s got tactical speed if needed and he’s rock-hard fit. But in saying that, he’s got plenty of weight to lug.”

Amor Victorious returned to the winners’ circle last start at Eagle Farm at listed level over the mile on December 27. It was the six-year-old’s first victory since the group 2 Shannon Stakes in September 2024 and his fourth run back from almost a year out following surgery to remove a bone chip in his knee. He has gate two and Dylan Gibbons aboard.

“His run first-up was excellent and his run in the Ingham was great, so it was good to see him replicate that sort of form,” Baker said.

“He’s a good horse on his day, a group 2 winner, so it’s nice to have him back and going into a race like the Lakes drawn in gate two, an on-speed horse, you definitely go in with a bit of confidence.

Leading Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker is hungry for more success in Wyong.

“You never quite know if you are going to get them back, but he’s definitely showing that while he’s not quite at his best, he’s very close to it.”

Baker has several runners on the card, including resuming four-year-old Puntin, which had firmed from $8 into $4 for the last.

“He’s had a couple of trials and we’ve done plenty with him at home, so I think he’s ready for the 1350m first-up,” Baker said.

“He’s a horse that might take a run or two to get to his best, but we’re happy with him.”

On the Gold Coast, Baker was backing Swordplay to give the opposition something to chase in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate (1100m).

The Shalaa filly, a winner three times from four starts this preparation, was an $11 chance with Rachel King to ride in the second annual slot race for three-year-olds. They face a tough task against a class field from the outside gate in 12.

“She’s had a few runs this time in, but we’re very happy with her and she is very fast, particularly out of the gates, so that might give us our chance,” said Baker, who has favourite Warwoven in next week’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

“I’d be surprised if she didn’t go to the front.”

Snowden has fingers crossed for sunlight in the straight

Randwick trainer Peter Snowden is confident fast-finishing Akaysha will get the hot tempo she needs in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight Plate (1100m) on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Now she just needs luck in the straight.

The Capitalist filly beat stablemate Beadman on debut at Kembla but has not won in six runs since, despite never finishing outside the top four, including three placings in stakes grade.

First-up and from gate one with Tom Sherry to ride, she was a $6.50 TAB chance for Saturday’s slot race for three-year-olds.

Snowden hoped the inside draw turned out to be a positive in the 12-horse field, where all the early speed is drawn in the middle and outside.

“The horses she’s run second to, there’s the Slipper winner [Marhoona], the horse that ran second in the Coolmore [My Gladiola], and last start she got heavily interfered with and the one that caused the most interference [Inkaruna] came out and won a $1 million race the next week,” Snowden said.

“Every race she’s had there’s been very strong form and there would be nothing in this that has the form she has, but she’s a get-back runner and she’s going to need luck.

“She’s just got to stay out of trouble, you let her find her feet and hope the runs come when you want them.

“It’s good to draw one, but it’s not so good if you can’t take advantage.

“She got beat a nose down the straight at Flemington, then the next start at Caulfield she drew one and jumped and they weren’t going hard. She was third and pulling her brains out, and didn’t finish off as well as she can.

“She’s got a booming finish if they go quick and she relaxes. She’s going to get the pace to suit here, but we just need the luck when we want it in the straight.”

Snowden also has Miss Freelove as an emergency for the race and a $3.10 favourite for the $250,000 consolation, where she has drawn well in four.

“In the proper race she would have been competitive, but being in the consolation, it probably gives her a bit more chance,” he said.

Stablemate Johnny ($10) has gate three in the race.

“He’s got good fresh form, it’s good kick off point and hopefully he can get a cheque,” he said.

Snowden said Seeiaye, which he withdrew from next week’s the Magic Millions Classic “had gone for a decent spell and we’ll probably geld him”.