Racing: Lion Tamer puts rivals through the hoops

Bjorn Baker. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Cambridge raider Lion Tamer has set the bar for Sydney's staying 3-year-olds with a scintillating win in the Ming Dynasty Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.

Racing against the pattern of the day on the heavy track, Lion Tamer (A$17) came from near last on the turn to snatch victory from Praecido (A$6) by half a length.

Testarhythm was sent out the A$2.80 favourite in the 1400m listed event but weakened in the conditions and beat only one home.

Praecido's stablemate Sea Lord, was among the top fancies in pre-post betting but was scratched mid-afternoon when the track deteriorated.

Bjorn Baker represented the stable he shares with his father, Murray, and said he did not quite know what to expect before the race.

"He's a very relaxed horse and gets back in his races," Baker said.

"But it's hard to know when you bring them over how they will go.

"He was unplaced in his only other start in the wet but, to be fair to him, two horses fell in front of him and he couldn't get going again.

"His breeding said he would handle the wet and also that the further he goes the better.

"He'll stay here for the Gloaming Stakes and the Spring Champion Stakes and then we'll think about the Derby in Melbourne."

The Bakers brought Nom du Jeu to Sydney to win the AJC Australian Derby in 2008 and just missed out the following year when Harris Tweed ran a close second to Roman Emperor.

Harris Tweed ran fifth in last year's Melbourne Cup and third in the Sydney Cup in April.

He began his 2010 Melbourne Cup campaign with an unplaced run over 1700m at Flemington an hour after Lion Tamer won at Randwick.

Earlier on the card, carnival stalwart Theseo returned to his brilliant best to claim some big scalps in the Chelmsford Stakes.

His all-the-way win brought up a home ground treble for trainer Gai Waterhouse and jockey Nash Rawiller.

"We're back," Waterhouse said. "Isn't he a champion? He's really come back with a vengeance and will improve again.

"He'll go on to the George Main and then to Melbourne for the Cox Plate."

Punters warmed to Theseo late, sending him out the A$3 favourite while easing Metal Bender from A$2.50 to A$3.30.

As expected, Theseo took up the running from the outset with Metal Bender camped second on his inside with the track a heavy (9).

Metal Bender fought doggedly along the rail in the straight but with Rawiller steering to the middle of the course, Theseo had too many reserves and went on to win by a length.

Staying mare Purple (A$6) ran home well for third another three-quarters of a length away with Metal Bender's stablemate Triple Honour (A$5.50) another two lengths fourth.

"I let him bowl along but I was concerned at the half-mile," Rawiller said.

"He dipped and dived a bit so I let him go quicker.

"I wasn't worried about getting into a cat-and-mouse game and he [Theseo] got into a nice rhythm."

Trainer Chris Waller was content with the performances of Metal Bender and Triple Honour.

"Metal Bender kept fighting hard in the conditions and we think this will tighten him up for the Underwood in two weeks," he said.

"Triple Honour doesn't like the heavy tracks the way he used to. He'll run in the Hill Stakes next, which will be an easier race than this one."

Purple, who is not nominated for the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, is on the path towards the Metropolitan on October 2.

She ran fourth in the Warwick Stakes and continued to improve with her third.

- AAP