An Australian debut win over an unsuitable distance has filled the Baker stable with confidence ahead of Lion Tamer's main spring missions.
The Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained colt finished strongly to win the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at the start of the month but was always expected to improve with distance, starting with the Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill tomorrow.
The Cambridge galloper is joint favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 2 and will put his credentials for that race on the line at Rosehill.
"The main concern the other day is that it's always hard taking horses to Australia thinking you're going to be competitive," Bjorn Baker said on Wednesday.
"With us, we've had success at 2000m-plus [in Australia] because the further you go up in distance the racing tends to drop out a bit.
"Going to the races we know once it gets over more ground we're going to be more competitive."
The Bakers won the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) with Nom de Jeu in 2008 and finished second with Harris Tweed last year, a week after he won the Tulloch Stakes (2000m).
Lion Tamer made his debut several months earlier in his 2-year-old season than both those gallopers and that has translated into him making his first transtasman trip half a season earlier than that pair as well.
"They were a little bit later than this bloke," Baker said.
"He had his first start as a 2-year-old in a stakes race in November, missed the jump by five and ran past them all to win.
"We've always had a big opinion of him and thought he would stay."
Baker believes Lion Tamer's ability to relax is the biggest pointer towards him remaining ultra-competitive for the remainder of the spring 3-year-old staying features.
"He's a lovely, relaxed horse, he does switch off and he's got a sprint. If he can switch off and then sprint then he's going to be competitive."
The Bakers have Harris Tweed and 3-year-old Mackadoo in Melbourne.
Mackadoo finished seventh, beaten by almost five lengths, in his first Australian start in the Listed Henry Bucks (1400m) at Flemington and is expected to improve in the 3YO Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield tomorrow.
"He's probably going to be better the further he goes, it depends on how he goes on Saturday," Baker said, "but he'll be nominated for the VRC Derby and that's what we've got in the back of our minds."
- AAP
Racing: Lion Tamer well placed to pounce at Rosehill
Bjorn Baker. Photo / Sarah Ivey
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