3 months ago
6
By Craig Kerry
December 11, 2025 — 5.00pm
Trainer Bjorn Baker has labelled Hollywood Hero a huge chance to give him a feature win on Saturday at Randwick, while declaring Robusto was “not out of it” in his $2 million The Ingham (1600m) defence.
The Warwick Farm trainer had a day out at the corresponding meeting last year, winning the Inglis Nursery with filly Within The Law, the Ingham with $26 hope Robusto and the last with Disneck.
Robusto (left) wins the group 2 The Ingham at Randwick last year.Credit: Getty Images
Robusto went on to finish second in The Buffering, The Lakes and the Winter Stakes before winning the Winter Challenge.
However, he has finished seventh in his four starts since, all in better company, including in The Hunter (1300m) then the Festival Stakes (1500m) this time in.
Robusto, which drops 5.5 kilograms to 54kg, was $21 (TAB) with gate six for Saturday’s race, where Ash Morgan rides for the first time.
Baker was forgiving of the Festival Stakes run, where Robusto was on the heels of winner Yorkshire before fading late.
“Second up, he was always going to be a little bit vulnerable,” Baker said.
“He was very good in the Newcastle race first up and we know he’s better with racing.
“There’s a bit of rain forecast, and we know he can handle it. He’s got a good gate. He’s able to put himself there. He’s got a bombproof racing pattern.
“It’s an exceptionally tough race, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.”
Baker also has another Darby Racing six-year-old, Amor Victorious, in the race. He was $23 from gate three with Rachel King aboard.
Amor Victorious was five lengths off Ingham favourite Gringotts in The Gong (1600m) last start on a heavy Kembla track.
“He’s going to be able to put himself on speed. I guess the question mark with him is if the rain does come,” Baker said.
“He doesn’t mind a bit of cut in the ground, but if it does get more demanding than that, it’s a worry. But if it was a soft 6, I’d be very happy, and he had excuses last time on a really wet track.”
Baker was far more confident about Hollywood Hero in the $200,000 listed Christmas Cup (2400m). The five-year-old has not won beyond 1600m but has been building to Saturday’s test, finishing second in the Little Dance (1600m), then third over 1850m at Newcastle and over 2000m in the ATC Cup at Rosehill. Hollywood Hero was a $3.50 favourite with Morgan to steer from gate five.
“He deserves his crack, his work’s been outstanding,” Baker said.
“I’ve been absolutely thrilled with him, as have the riders. He gets in with no weight and he was good last time.
“I’m actually confident he can run a big race. On work alone, I think it’s a huge chance.
“The one thing about him is he can relax very, very well. You don’t quite know until you get the 2400, but he is a very relaxed customer and he’s got a good turn of foot, so that’s going to give us our opportunity.”
The stable holds a strong hand in the fourth with Snack Bar ($3.70) and the resuming Miss Kim Kar ($8). Baker, though, was concerned with the draw in 16 for Snack Bar.
“It’s got a very wide gate, so that’s a question mark, but he’s going great,” he said.
“It looks a good race for him if he’d drawn well.
“Miss Kim Kar can handle a wet track if it does get demanding, her trials have been good, and she’s a Magic Millions filly that’s on target.”
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