Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker heads to Wyong on Thursday with the thought that his two year old Unencumbered will collect the major prize in the $200,000 Magic Millions Wyong 2yo Classic (1100m).
Unencumbered scores his 2nd win at the Kensington Track at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Baker was surprised that the Garry Frazer trained filly Sheer Style was marked as the $2.20 favourite ahead of his colt ($4), saying that Unencumbered had improved since the pair met at Rosehill on October 26.
Unencumbered will meet Sheer Style on 1kg better terms after finishing half a length behind the filly when the youngsters finished second and third behind Bold Circle.
“Now we come back to the normal weight scale for colts against fillies and I just think he has improved a lot,” Baker told Racing Network.
Since they last met, Unencumbered collected his second winner’s cheque scoring over 1000m on the Kensington track at Randwick on December 7 while Sheer Style proved too speedy for her opponents by leading all of the way in the $200,000 Magic Millions Clockwise Classic (1000m) at Ballarat November 24.
“When they met for the first time, my colt was hunted up on the speed, which I don’t think is the best way to ride him,” Baker said
“Personally I don’t think there should be much between them in the market, I am definitely surprised that we are $4 and she is $2.20.”
Nathan Berry will again be aboard Unencumbered and Baker can envisage him settling off the pace from gate six in the seven horses field.
“I don’t think we will be changing too much tactics wise, it is only a small field and Nathan knows the horse quite well,” Baker said.
Melbourne colt Geromayo is also in the betting at $6 just ahead of the Gai Waterhouse trained filly Spirit Of Joy.
The Mick Price trained Geromayo chased Sheer Style home at Ballarat while Spirit Of Joy is sure to be improved on her first up fourth to Memorial over 1100m at Rosehill on November 30.
Unencumbered ($145,850), Sheer Style ($153,500) and Geromayo ($39,000) have plenty of money in the bank heading towards the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 11 with the other four starters trying to pick up a prizemoney cheque to help gain a spot in the glamour two year old race.
Echo Gal, from the Waterhouse stable, heads the Gold Coast Magic Millions market order at $5.50 just in front of the undefeated Oakleigh Girl at $6.
Sheer Style shares the next line of betting with Nordic Empire at $8 with Unencumbered marked at $11 and Geromayo at $12.
