There’s something special about New Zealanders who export their talents to Australia, settle down and outshine their local counterparts. Achieving immediate success, Bjorn Baker is a name we should get used to hearing.
Baker is about to complete his first full season as an Australian trainer and he’s made quite an impact among trainers already. The son of legendary New Zealand trainer, Murray Baker, Bjorn commenced his stable operations at Warwick Farm 18 months ago and is already establishing himself without the aid of his father’s horses.
At 35 years of age, Bjorn is as young as horse trainers get in this industry but like many others, has the skill of horsemanship within his bloodlines. Plying the majority of his working life as a qualified pharmacist, Baker did not commence full time horse training until 2011 but had always been involved with his father’s operations.
Although yet to achieve Group 1 success which would have been an enormous effort in just his first season, he got within a nose in the Champagne stakes when Fuerza led all the way but was just beaten on the line by Guelph.
He did however reach Group 2 success in the VRC Sire’s Produce Stakes with Twilight Royale and Ajax Stakes with Havana Rey.
Although not the official trainer, he stables and manages three year old Triple Crown winner It’s A Dundeel on his father’s behalf when the colt is racing in Australia.
So impressive has Baker’s impact been in NSW racing, he caught the attention of John Singleton. Baker has been assigned two Singleton-owned horses that had been training under Gai Waterhouse but removed following the More Joyous scandal.
Baker’s immediate metropolitan success should be no surprise to Australian trainers because New Zealanders have a knack of success when they cross the Tasman.
Leading New Zealand apprentice jockey James Mcdonald is also about to complete his first season of Australian racing. Immediately gaining rides for Sydney’s largest metropolitan stables in his first season, the Kiwi has already become a regular on Australia’s Group 1 scene.
At just 21 years of age, McDonald caught the attention of European trainers during his first season of Australian riding.
Accepting an invitation, he will spend the European summer riding for English trainer Charles Hills. It will give McDonald global exposure and the chance to ride at Royal Ascot in June which is an outstanding achievement for such a young jockey.
New Zealand’s most successful export though is leading NSW trainer Chris Waller.
Back in 2000, Waller moved to Australia with just four horses and is about to claim his third consecutive NSW Trainer Premiership.
Bjorn Baker’s two most impressive horses will be big players next season. Two year old’s Fuerza and Twilight Royale have achieved success as juveniles and both are likely to contest the three year Caulfield classics, the Caulfield and Thousand Guineas.
Twilight Royale will be primed for the 2014 Scone Guineas where connections will earn a $2.4million bonus should their filly be successful. The Testa Rossa filly has won the first two legs of the Inglis bonus series with earlier wins at Warwick Farm and Mornington in Inglis-sponsored races.
From five starts, Twilight Royale has amassed just under $500,000 in prize money but owner are likely to request a light spring carnival rather than risk a big campaign that may end in injury.
After winning the VRC Sires Produce, I flagged Twilight Royale as the Golden Slipper winner but the filly went to the spelling paddock.
Based on her early form as a two year old, Twilight Royale looms as a superstar three year old but with the Inglis bonus on offer, owners cannot be blamed for wanting to protect the filly that cost them just $45,000.
Bjorn Baker’s stable is small but it’s growing. He is quickly establishing his own network of owners and is frequently lining up metropolitan runners each weekend. Based on everything we have seen from his horses in his first season, Baker looks likely to continue the tradition of New Zealander’s achieving great success in Australia.
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