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By Tony Megahey   

While excitement levels are elevating around She’s Ideel for the Bjorn Baker stable, lesser-tiered prospects are primed to maintain dominance at Monday’s Bathurst TAB meeting.

All industry participants are monitoring heavy weather and racing conditions, with contingency plans, explained Baker racing manager, Stephen McLean, based at Warwick Farm in the continuing rain.

“Right now it’s a waiting game with all the rain, but with weather predictions, our Bathurst and Goulburn (Sunday) plans look more settled,” McLean offered.

Do Not Disturb coasts home at Bathurst for jockey Brandon Lerena. Image by Janian McMillan (Racing Photography)

“We’ve got nice chances all day at Bathurst, Bjorn has an opinion of Do Not Disturb (race five) and Just Jessie in the last - well-bred and really progressive fillies.

“They’d be our best - Do Not Disturb has trained on since her last win, Just Jessie is fitter and trialled up nicely.

“We fancy them in suitable races. But we’ve got other live chances and dual acceptors to make a decision on, depending on track conditions.”

In Do Not Disturb’s race, significantly stablemates Redjina and Antarctic Ocean have also accepted for Goulburn on Sunday.

At present Bathurst is rated an appealing good 3 track and Goulburn a soft 6.

Meanwhile, Bathurst is the scene of Baker’s career-best, a phenomenal five winners combining with Greg Ryan in November of 2017 and trebles and doubles have since been regular.

And entering the riding arena, usually dominated by Ryan for the stable is rising South African Brandon Lerena, who has rides in five of the seven-race Bathurst program.

Lerena won on Do Not Disturb last start, also rides Just Jessie, and has a super busy few days with multiple rides for Baker at Newcastle, Bathurst, Goulburn and Canterbury Park, and typically several favourites.

Meanwhile, McLean offers a valuable insight for bigger occasions as She’s Ideel ($3.60 on TAB fixed odds) attempts a winning treble in town on Saturday.

“It’ll be genuinely heavy regardless; I’m convinced she’ll get through it, both her wins on soft tracks have been dominant and her breeding indicates she could even thrive in it.”

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Bathurst here