Racing: Bakers eye second AJC Derby after Tulloch

The father-son team of Murray and Bjorn Baker will be striving to win their second AJC Australian Derby in as many years after Harris Tweed rocketed into contention with victory in the Group Two Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill.

The Bakers took last year's Derby trophy back to New Zealand with Nom Du Jeu and Bjorn Baker said Harris Tweed, who was making his Australian debut in yesterday's 2000m feature, would get the chance to emulate his stablemate next Saturday.

"As long as he pulls up well we'll go that way definitely," Baker said.

"It's a big thrill to come here on a day like today and be competitive and to be racing, let alone win."

Harris Tweed started at $7.50 and went one better than the Baker-trained Rios who finished runner-up to Book Of Kells in last year's Tulloch Stakes.

After settling worse than midfield for Hugh Bowman the colt finished hard to edge out the Mark Kavanagh-trained Dr Doute's ($4) by a half-length with another New Zealander, Old Jock ($13), a further long neck away third.

Kavanagh also indicated Dr Doute's would press on to the Derby while Paul Murray, trainer of fifth-placed Predatory Pricer ($3.30 favourite), said his horse struggled to handle the heavy track and would not run next week if the Randwick track was rain-soaked.

He may instead take on the older horses in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Anzac Day.

Harris Tweed is raced by Phil Bayly who enjoyed success on the corresponding programme in 1981 when My Blue Denim won the Tancred Stakes.

While Harris Tweed coped with the heavy track, Jim Cassidy on last-placed Back Off, said many horses struggled in the sodden ground.

"When you race their legs are sinking in it," Cassidy said.

- AAP