Trainer Bjorn Baker is confident that promising colt Windjammer is a winning chance in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
Windjammer is chasing the second victory of his racing career in the Golden Rose at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart
Windjammer has performed well since returning to the races as a three-year-old but is still well down the Golden Rose betting market and is currently rated as a $26 chance.
The Bernardini colt resumed with an impressive victory in the National Jockeys Trusts Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 3 and followed that run up with a third place finish behind Va Pensiero in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at the same venue on August 17.
He finished sixth in the Group 3 The Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens just under a fortnight ago but the three-year-olds run was better than it looked to the naked eye as he did not find clear running until the 200 metre mark and ran on strongly in the final stages of the race.
Baker told Racing Ahead that he has been happy with how Windjammer has come out of The Run To The Rose and believes he will be a contender this weekend.
“He has a lot of ability and he goes into the race with a define chance,” Baker said.
“I am very happy with him and if he can get a bit of luck he is in a race like this.”
Windjammer will jump from barrier eleven in the seventeen horse field and will be ridden by in-form jockey Nathan Berry who recorded his second straight Group 3 victory with his upset win on Malavio in the Group 3 Tramway Stakes (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Baker believes that the outside draw is a positive for Windjammer and is delighted to have the rising jockey on board.
“I thought it was a good draw for him,” Baker said.
“I think with seventeen runners there is going to be a heap of speed and pressure and I’m not sure the inside is where you want to be.
“Somewhere in the middle is good and I think he can jump and put himself there.
“He (Berry) has ridden a stakes winner in the past two weeks and hopefully he can make it three in a row.
“He is a pleasure to deal with and it would be great for him and me if we can be in the finish.”
Baker and Berry will both be celebrating their first Group 1 victories if Windjammer is successful on Saturday.
