"It really seems like a distant memory when they start reeling off some of the big winners I've had."
Baker flew in from Melbourne on Sunday after watching his promising 3-year-old Long Jack win a maiden 1400m at Ballarat last Friday and stablemate The Chosen One finish a game fifth in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, while son Bjorn made a fleeting trip fresh from a double at Randwick, including a runaway win in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) by Samadoubt.
Adding to the memorable evening for Baker, he and his training partner, Andrew Forsman, were the recipients of the New Zealand Trainer of the Year Award for the third successive year and fourth time in five years, while the stable's dual Group 1 star Madison County was a dominant winner of the Champion Three-Year-Old Award.
Baker and Forsman have completed seven seasons in partnership and the stable has grown from strength to strength, achieving a record-breaking 143 wins two seasons ago. This past season the partners wound up as leading trainers with 112 wins, 25 black-type winners and more than $3.8 million in prizemoney on the local scene.
Baker was quick to pay tribute to Forsman's input for another wonderful season.
"The part he plays in the operation is huge," Baker said.
"He's got an exceptional talent and understands the game. He's great with the staff and patient with the horses."
Baker and Forsman have prepared 693 New Zealand winners together and 105 Group or Listed winners on the local front, plus an Australasian total of 32 wins at Group 1 level.
Before taking Forsman on as training partner Baker trained successfully for three seasons with Bjorn.
"I'm proud of them both," Baker said. "Bjorn is absolutely flying in Sydney. He's done it on his own and he's built up a great team."
But on Sunday night the spotlight was well and truly on Baker senior.
With the support of his wife, Marianne, he has gone from a fledgling trainer in Woodville in the 1980s to climb to the top of the ladder.
Baker attributes his shift north to Cambridge in 2000 as a turning point in his training career. "It's known New Zealand breeds a world-class product and being up here in the Waikato close to the main studs has given me a chance to get a better class of horse.
"It's all a numbers game and being hands-on has helped."
Baker has also earned the utmost respect in Australia, having continuously made successful raids on feature events.
He has won 21 Group 1 races in Australia, more than any other New Zealand trainer.
And it is that pursuit of major Australian prizes that keeps Baker going.
"I'm addicted to Australian racing," he said. "I love the thrill of taking a horse over there and winning one of their big races.
"I get withdrawal symptoms when I can't find one to take over.
"One thing I realised early on was to take on the Aussies you really need a staying horse. Otherwise you've got to have an exceptionally good sprinter-miler, like Turn Me Loose.
"If you've got a staying horse with a bit of class and a good temperament you're in with a show."
Baker has proved that theory time and time again with the likes of Eagle Eye, Prized Gem, The Phantom, Lion Tamer, Nom Du Jeu, Bonneval, Dowry, Harris Tweed, Jon Snow, Mongolian Khan and one of his personal favourites, Dundeel.
Baker is at a stage in his life when most people his age would be sitting back and relaxing, but he has no thought of doing that.
"I've been training for over 40 years now and I'm still enjoying it," he said. "It's my way of life and I couldn't see myself doing anything else."
Baker and Forsman have purposely taken a quieter approach to the start of the new season in New Zealand, preferring to leave the horses out spelling a bit longer.
"We've got a lot of unraced 3-year-olds just waiting to start off," he said.
"And there's the likes of Holy Mongolemperor, who ran a second at Hastings. I think he's a very good horse."
After a slow start to the domestic season, Baker and Forsman have already made their mark in Australia, with Long Jack's victory in Victoria being preceded by Quick Thinker winning the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Stakes (1400m) fresh-up at Rosehill.
"Long Jack won well and I think he could be a good horse," said Baker.
"He's on a path to the Victoria Derby [Group 1, 2500m] and I was happy with The Chosen One's run. He was three-wide and had to do a lot at the Valley.
"He'll go for the Underwood Stakes [Group 1, 1800m]. I've got a bit of a soft spot for the race as I've won it four times."
- NZ Racing Desk
