3 minute read
Her name means a leisurely stroll but Passeggiata has so far shown trainer Bjorn Baker that speed is her forte and he hopes to make use of a light weight to remain unbeaten at Rosehill on Saturday.
The filly, a medium of strong support when markets opened from $5.50 into $2.50 by Thursday in the Kia Ora Farnan Handicap (1100m), is being thrown somewhat in the deep end by Bjorn Baker after her debut win at Gosford but he's put some thought into her placement.
"It's a big ask going straight from provincial to Saturday grade,'' Baker said.
"We accepted on Wednesday and it was a tricky enough little race, you weigh it up and it's worth a lot more on Saturday so we'd love to go there and be competitive.
"It comes down to where she's best placed, and the fact she has no weight (52kg) and the fact Rachel (King) can stick with her definitely put us that way."
Passeggiata had shown high speed in her trials and that was on display at Gosford as she scooted around the 1000m to run out a 3-1/2 length maiden winner.
The daughter of Winning Rupert, who Baker also trained, was a $130,000 purchase and the trainer said a little patience was needed which is why she didn't trial for the first time until late in her two-year-old year.
He expects the debut win will bring Passeggiata on nicely.
"She's shown us a heap from early on,'' he said.
"She's always been an athlete, a good mover, she looks like a fast horse and thankfully that's how she goes.
"She needed a bit of time but her first win was very good and she trialled well before that.
"I was a bit concerned with that first run because she'd only had one trial going into it so I think she will be spot on with two and a half weeks between runs.
"I think she's pretty sensible so from a good gate she will be able to use it around Rosehill for sure. I think she is a big chance."
Baker hopes restricting Dynamic Impact to a sprint trip will bring out some consistency in the gelding in the Fujitsu General Handicap (1200m) after a first-up win.
He'll also have Van Giz, in foal and nearing the end of her career, in the event and she'll be on trial to back up at Magic Millions day next weekend.
It's been three weeks since Dynamic Impact's Canterbury win, his first since putting two wins together in the late spring of 2021, and Baker said given his record (23 starts, six wins and no other placings) shows he's been very hit and miss that could be the key.
"That's one of the reasons we're staying at 1200m and just keeping him a bit on the fresh side,'' he said.
And Van Giz also showed a return to form notching her first placing in 11 months when charging into a close second over 1000m at Randwick on Boxing Day.
"It was good to see her get back to some form last time and down with 52kg she won't know herself,'' he said.
"Hopefully she can run well and we can head up to the Magic Millions, but she may have to be right in the finish to warrant doing that."