Racing: Baker seeks lion's share

Banchee (outer) just beats Cellarmaster at Ellerslie. The pair clash again at Awapuni on Saturday. Photo / Greg Bowker

Murray Baker got what he was looking for early on Tuesday morning.

The Cambridge dawn was breaking just in time for the trainer to determine the smile on jockey Michael Coleman as he walked Lion Tamer off the training track.

Coleman had made an early morning trip from his Matamata base to Cambridge to ride the final gallop on Lion Tamer for the Manawatu Sires at Awapuni on Saturday, Murray Baker knew the smile meant a lot.

Coleman hadn't previously ridden Lion Tamer and was impressed.

But it was only what Baker had expected.

"He's a pretty good horse this," he said after Lion Tamer had cooled off.

To be fair, the admiration team was probably a fraction bigger before Lion Tamer got home narrowly as the $1.60 favourite at Trentham a couple of weeks ago.

However, Baker warns punters to take little notice of that close call.

The stable has been walking a knife edge with Lion Tamer.

From the moment he made his last-to-first winning debut at Pukekohe on Counties Cup Day in December he has always looked like his best would come as a 3-year-old.

The Bakers gave him three months away from the racetrack to allow him the freshness to be a chance on Saturday's race and as a result had to take the risk of leaving him short of fitness for his recent Trentham race.

They got away with it, but only just.

"He badly needed that run, he hadn't been to the races in three months and hadn't even trialled," said Baker.

Being a staying type, the 1400m this time will suit Lion Tamer.

For all that, he will have a real job on his hands managing Matamata filly Banchee, who will also relish the step to 1400m.

She will be the favourite and deserves to be so.

The way she can come off a good speed and sprint to the line would have made her a real chance in Saturday's A$3.5 million Golden Slipper Stakes had the decision been made to take her to Sydney.

That same racing scenario will probably get her the money in this race. "She's done well," said trainer John Sargent.

"She eats, sleeps and works. That's her and it stands by her well. She will relax mid-field and really get at them late."

You can make a case Cellarmaster was a bit stiff behind Banchee last start and he was certainly unlucky the time before.

He also runs home strongly.

Murray and Bjorn Baker and Cellarmaster's trainer Kevin Gray have a busy afternoon - they prepare the only two New Zealand runners in Sydney's weight-for-age classic, the BMW.

Harris Tweed for the Bakers and Gray's Daffodil are in a redhot field, but an expected slight easing in the track will assist the pair, particularly Harris Tweed.