Victoria Derby Winner Lion Tamer Plans Spring Onslaught

Lion Tamer

Lion Tamer was last year's Victoria Derby winner

Last year’s Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer has been aimed at another Spring Carnival campaign in Melbourne this year by trainer Bjorn Baker.

Baker, who trains the horse with his father, will travel Lion Tamer to Australia after having a long spell in his home country of New Zealand.

Lion Tamer was forced to miss the autumn after he suffered numerous unexpected setbacks.

The three-year-old will be angled predominantly at the Group 1 Cox Plate and $6 million Melbourne Cup.

Lion Tamer is currently back in work and preparing for his spring assignment.

“He’s back and going well at the moment. He looks great and he’s probably got stronger,” Baker said.

“He’s still a fair way off resuming.

Baker is not planning to race Lion Tamer in his home country at all this spring.

“We will probably be looking to get to Melbourne in mid-August and he won’t race here, he’ll just race in Australia,” he said.

“The main target is the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.”

Lion Tamer won last year’s Group 1 Victoria Derby by an extraordinary six and a half lengths ahead of Praecido and Retrieve.

The Storming Home Colt, who has not run a race since his Derby win, has won five of his 11 race starts and has accrued nearly $1.1 million in prize money.

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