Bjorn Baker
Bradley Photographers
A season that has gone from strength to strength just got even better for ex-pat kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker when he produced Music Magnate to score in the Gr. 1 Doomben 10,000 on the weekend.
It was the Sydney based Baker's 113th win for the season and his biggest success since leaving a training partnership with his father Murray back in August 2011 to try and establish himself in the white-hot Australian racing environment.
Despite a tough start that saw him allocated only two boxes at Warwick Farm to begin his Australian venture, Baker has steadily worked his way up the ladder through the deeds of horses such as Group Two winner Havana Rey, Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered and Group One placed filly Fuerza. However it is the win of Music Magnate that now sees his name in lights which is something that provides his father with deep satisfaction.
"He's had a hell of a season so far and I guess getting his first Australian Group One on his own bat is a real feather in his cap," said Baker senior.
"We won a few in partnership but now he's on his own it would have been one of the biggest goals he set himself.
"We hadn't talked much in the lead-up to Saturday as he is so busy with a big team but we managed to have a few words before he got on the plane back to Sydney on Saturday night and he was pretty happy.
"He was quick to mention it meant he was getting all the money instead of none when we were training together so he's still as cheeky as ever."
While racing is in the Baker blood it is not the only string to Bjorn's bow as he qualified as a pharmacist after graduating from Otago University back in 1999 and spent more than eight years plying his trade both in New Zealand and overseas before returning to the thoroughbred industry in 2007.
"While he was working as pharmacist overseas he still tried to fit as much time in with the racing industry as he could," noted his father.
"When he was in Ireland he would go out to John Oxx's training base at the Curragh on the weekend and work for free with his stable. He also had a stint with Christophe Clement in New York so he could get more experience in another quality environment.
"When he came back to New Zealand he worked for me first before we went into partnership to make sure it was what he wanted to do and I guess things have progressed since then.
"We knew it would be tough for him when he decided to go to Australia so to see how well he is doing makes us very proud."
Baker's 113 winners places him 6th on the Australian wide trainer's premiership ladder with Aus $4.4m prizemoney earnings, behind only Darren Weir, Chris Waller, David Hayes & Tom Dabernig, John O'Shea and Peter & Paul Snowden. His strike rate of 20.4% winners to starters is the best of the top 15 trainers on the table. – NZ Racing Desk
It was the Sydney based Baker's 113th win for the season and his biggest success since leaving a training partnership with his father Murray back in August 2011 to try and establish himself in the white-hot Australian racing environment.
Despite a tough start that saw him allocated only two boxes at Warwick Farm to begin his Australian venture, Baker has steadily worked his way up the ladder through the deeds of horses such as Group Two winner Havana Rey, Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Unencumbered and Group One placed filly Fuerza. However it is the win of Music Magnate that now sees his name in lights which is something that provides his father with deep satisfaction.
"He's had a hell of a season so far and I guess getting his first Australian Group One on his own bat is a real feather in his cap," said Baker senior.
"We won a few in partnership but now he's on his own it would have been one of the biggest goals he set himself.
"We hadn't talked much in the lead-up to Saturday as he is so busy with a big team but we managed to have a few words before he got on the plane back to Sydney on Saturday night and he was pretty happy.
"He was quick to mention it meant he was getting all the money instead of none when we were training together so he's still as cheeky as ever."
While racing is in the Baker blood it is not the only string to Bjorn's bow as he qualified as a pharmacist after graduating from Otago University back in 1999 and spent more than eight years plying his trade both in New Zealand and overseas before returning to the thoroughbred industry in 2007.
"While he was working as pharmacist overseas he still tried to fit as much time in with the racing industry as he could," noted his father.
"When he was in Ireland he would go out to John Oxx's training base at the Curragh on the weekend and work for free with his stable. He also had a stint with Christophe Clement in New York so he could get more experience in another quality environment.
"When he came back to New Zealand he worked for me first before we went into partnership to make sure it was what he wanted to do and I guess things have progressed since then.
"We knew it would be tough for him when he decided to go to Australia so to see how well he is doing makes us very proud."
Baker's 113 winners places him 6th on the Australian wide trainer's premiership ladder with Aus $4.4m prizemoney earnings, behind only Darren Weir, Chris Waller, David Hayes & Tom Dabernig, John O'Shea and Peter & Paul Snowden. His strike rate of 20.4% winners to starters is the best of the top 15 trainers on the table. – NZ Racing Desk
