Red-hot Baker ready to strike with twin chances in Rosehill feature

7 hours ago 4

By Craig Kerry

July 3, 2025 — 4.56pm

Bjorn Baker has hit the mark more than just about anyone in metropolitan racing this season.

So when the Warwick Farm trainer targets a feature with a horse attempting a seven-day back-up for the first time and another racing second up off a last-place finish, it would be dangerous to write him off.

Robusto (left) wins the group 2 The Ingham at Randwick in December.

Baker, coming to the end of a breakout season, has last-start winner Thunderlips and Robusto tackling the listed Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

Five-year-old Robusto, which won the $2 million The Ingham at Randwick in December and was second in three other features in his first campaign with Baker, resumed in the group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 14, where he faded to finish last after working forward early from a wide gate.

With gate one on Saturday and 60 kilograms, Robusto is $8 with Sportsbet to hit back at Rosehill.

Baker is confident of an improved showing back in grade.

“It was a tough ask, and he drew badly, which was always going to make it tricky,” Baker said of the Eagle Farm run.

“That work he had to do first up, he was always going to be vulnerable. It was a risky play, but you’ve got to be in it to win it.

“But no doubt he’s going to be better for the run. Gate one, I guess we don’t know if that’s good or bad until race day, but he’s definitely well. His work is good, he looks great, he’s fit and he has performed well at Rosehill since I’ve had him.

“The 1400 is probably ideal for him in terms of where he is at.

“He’s a nice horse and, obviously, he’s been a nice pick-up, but it’s a bit of a concern, the wet track, second up.”

Robusto has three wins and four placings in nine runs on soft going. Rosehill was a heavy 9 on Thursday with the weather clearing.

Josh Parr, coming off a winning treble last week at Rosehill, has the ride on Robusto.

“I ride plenty of his trackwork and Tuesday morning he did a little piece of work, albeit not too serious because it was on the poly [track] – we didn’t get the grass track – but he still feels in good shape and I can’t see any reason why he can’t bounce back,” Parr said.

“Obviously you don’t really know though until you press the button on race day.

“He’ll go forward, especially from that barrier. We can’t throw away a draw like that, especially at Rosehill, and he’s a competitive little horse. He loves being in the battle, so he’s quite an easy horse to ride.”

Thunderlips has won his past two, starting at Randwick on June 7.

Apprentice Anna Roper takes over from Parr on Thunderlips. A $4.80 hope from gate six, the Zoustar four-year-old has won his past two starts, at Randwick then last week at Rosehill, and is chasing a first stakes-grade victory.

“Thunderlips is on the back-up, and he’s obviously going really well and he likes it wet, so he’s not out of it,” said Baker, who has 91 metropolitan winners this season nationwide and a strike rate of 20 per cent, which is second only to West Australians Grant and Alana Williams (21.8%) among the top trainers.

“He seems fine, we’re happy with him.”

Baker has 86 city winners in NSW this season, second only to Chris Waller (136), and they have included the Doncaster Mile (Stefi Magnetica) and Sydney Cup (Arapaho). He has also gone past 150 winners on all tracks nationwide.

“It’s been fantastic, a great season, and I’ve got some really nice horses, good clients, good team and things are going well,” he said.

“I’ve got just over 100 horses, and I’m very comfortable with that. It works well and the facilities at Warwick Farm are very good, so I couldn’t be happier with how things are going.”

A win on Robusto would also continue a top season for Parr, who has collected a career-best three group 1s. He hopes to reunite with one of those, Spring Champion Stakes winner El Castello, soon.

The three-year-old colt, on the comeback from injury, has joined the Joe Pride stable from former trainer Anthony Cummings.

“I’ve spoken with Joe, he let me know he was obtaining the horse to train, so it was good to touch base with him in that respect, but we’ll test the waters shortly,” Parr said.

Parr rides Storm The Ramparts for Pride in the fifth, where he is a $3.10 favourite after two wins then a close second last start.

“He’s in great form, but he’s got to carry 62.5 kilos,” Parr said. “But that’s just because of his consistency. Every run this prep has been up to the mark. He’s an in-form horse and he will get a track that suits him.”