3 minute read

If trainer Bjorn Baker handed out of end of season awards he’s pretty certain the ‘Most Improved’ gong would go to Iknowastar.

The bold on-pacer started the season rated 70 with a few country wins to his name and as he looks to end it in Saturday's Listed $200,000 James Squire Winter Stakes (1400m) at Randwick it sits on 99.

While there's a small concern from Baker that it could be a case of one run too many for Iknowastar  he feels the horse deserves to end his campaign with a stakes win.

"He's been a bit of a revelation over the last 12 months, in some ways he's probably the find of the season for me out of left field,'' Baker said.

"And he really does deserve a big win to cap what's been a great season. He's been a really enjoyable horse to train. He's worked through his grades really well so he's been a super find.

"I'd love him to go really well then we can bring him back and look at a race like the Five Diamonds."

Iknowastar, $2.60 with TAB on Friday, has been placed twice in stakes company in Brisbane since his runaway Randwick win back on May 25 and he'll be backing up a week after being run down by Cottee in the Tatt's Mile at Eagle Farm.

Baker said a heavy track isn't ideal though he did handle it well when third in The Coast at Newcastle.

"You always worry they do come to the end of it at some stage and the back up is a touch risky, and his best form is on top of the ground,'' he said.

"But I think it's worth giving it a shot then ideally we'll give him a short break into the spring.

"He hasn't got all favours in his last couple so he's been racing very well."

Stablemate Highlights can also lay claim to having had a fruitful season and backs up after his win in a Benchmark 88 at Rosehill last week.

The six-year-old's rating climbed to 90, it started the season at 72, with the narrow win.

"It's about taking it half a grade at a time and trying to work them through,'' he said.

"You need a healthy, sound, horse. You're not going improve unless the horse is in great order.

"He's had a great preparation and a really good season as a whole. It's a bit of a throw at the stumps but he can go out and come back in the summer."

Talented mare Shezanalister returns in the Racing For Good On July 13 Handicap (1100m) with the steadier of 61kg on her back.

There's no doubts from Baker about her heavy track credentials, as he recalled her debut in a country maiden where the form out of it looks pretty good now.

She's been fitted with a couple of trials and Baker hopes she can start this campaign in similar style to her last.

"She's a high class mare and I'd like to think she can go to black type, but 1100m with a big weight first-up is probably going to be a bit tough so that's in the back of my mind,'' he said.

"I went back through her wet track form and at her first start she ran second to a mare called Semana at Muswellbrook would you believe."