Racing: Baker sticks to BMW plans

Show The World will continue his Derby preparation in the Rosehill Guineas on Saturday. Photo / Natalie Slade

Trainer says It's A Dundeel needs a step up in distance, not carrying 58kg over 1600m.

If you have already backed It's A Dundeel in the BMW and got a fright with yesterday's story that the New Zealander could instead switch to the Doncaster, you can probably relax.

It was reported that John Messara, principal of It's A Dundeel's new owners Arrowfield Stud, thought the 1600m Doncaster might be a better option than the 2400m of the BMW after the stallion's slightly below-par third in last Saturday's Ranvet Stakes.

When the Herald spoke to It's A Dundeel's trainer Murray Baker in Sydney late yesterday, John Messara had not been in touch.

Baker is definitely not keen on the Doncaster option. "I just don't want to change direction at this point.

"He's not a particularly big horse and carrying 58kg in a race like the Doncaster would be too tough.

"I'm sure John was just feeling the water when he made that comment. I'll be surprised if It's A Dundeel is not running in the BMW."

Particularly after It's A Dundeel, surprisingly, raced a touch dour in the final 400m of Saturday's race, his usual lightning last dash absent.

Dropping the horse back in distance in the face of that effort would seem to be going in the wrong direction.

Baker certainly wasn't disappointed with the 4-year-old. "He ran the same last 600m as the winner, but couldn't pick up [speed] late.

"I'm not worried about that and he should see out the 2400m of the BMW a lot better."

Veterinarians who checked It's A Dundeel out on Sunday could find nothing amiss. "The horse is in excellent health," says his trainer.

Meanwhile, Baker will switch his immediate attention to Saturday's Rosehill Guineas, in which he will have Show The World and Atlante, provided Sydney's weather shows signs of picking up.

Heavy rain - 42mls in 24 hours at Warwick Farm on Monday - could see Atlante missing from the race.

"We'll run Show The World, but we'll need to make a decision tomorrow whether or not to even accept with Atlante. The problem is the forecast for the next few days is quite bad."

If the decision is made to go ahead with a start for Atlante, the issue of a rider needs to be addressed.

Atlante was ridden in his last Sydney start by Glyn Schofield, who is in Singapore at the bedside of his son-in-law Nathan Berry, critically ill with encephalitis.

"I haven't spoken to Glyn as to whether he's coming back for the weekend and I won't until I know for sure whether the horse is likely to start or not."

Baker said if Atlante starts he will definitely have the blinkers back on. "He went okay without them the start before, but last start he kept switching on and off, which he can do without the head gear.

"I wasn't too disappointed with his last 600m, which I felt was quite strong."

If Atlante misses the Rosehill Guineas he will have his Australian Derby lead-up the following Saturday in the Tulloch Stakes, a race Baker has had four runners in for three wins and a second. Our Palliser, The Bill and Harris Tweed have all been successful for the trainer.