Latest News

By Tony Megahey

Prolific Bathurst winner Bjorn Baker and accomplished local trainer Dean Mirfin have the form and numbers to dominate Saturday’s Tyers Park TAB meeting where heavy track form is the prerequisite.

A pleased Bailey Wheeler after riding his first winner (Airstrike) at Goulburn. Image by Bradley Photographers

On a Heavy 9 and with more rain forecast, Bathurst is also a day of super opportunity for the first season 16-year-old Kris Lees apprentice, Bailey Wheeler, with a full book through six races, including two favourites for Baker.

Baker’s Warwick Farm stables have celebrated phenomenal days at Bathurst, a record five winners in 2017 combining with retired country champion Greg Ryan, while trebles and doubles have been regular.

“We’ve got nice chances on the day, Hide Your Heart and Airstrike are our best, but we’ll be competitive with others,” offered Bjorn, a former Bathurst pharmacist before a highly successful career branching out from his father, NZ-training legend Murray Baker.

“Hide Your Heart will really appreciate out to the ‘2000’, has the makings of a nice staying filly, we think she’ll get through the conditions with the claim.

“Airstrike is also a really progressive filly, impressive winning her maiden, she’s trained on and gets similar conditions.”

Hide Your Heart contests the Pearce’s Lithgow Furniture and Bedding Maiden and Class 1, 2008m with Bailey’s 4kg claim and he backs up on Airstrike who provided his first winner, by six lengths significantly on a Heavy 9 at Goulburn recently. Airstrike contests the Bathurst RSL Class 2, 1108m.

Baker has extensively trialled debutantes Quatra Zip (Wheeler) and Joyzel to be ridden by Rachael Murray in a JB Civil Concreting Maiden 1108m.

“They’ve both showed nice ability at the trials, both won’t run, but whatever three-year-old we go with will be competitive.”

Mirfin invariably lands a winner or two at home meetings. Our Blue Moon resuming in the Bathurst RSL Class 2 (1108m), is primed by a Dubbo trial and has numerous placings, including in the heavy in stronger class at Hawkesbury.

Stablemates, Kimmy Lee and Supergaze are suitably placed in the Panorama Auctions BM 50 (1308m) with numerous placings and wet track form.

Mirfin’s De Forerunner hasn’t experienced rain-affected surfaces but will be hard to beat in the Erin’s Quality Outdoor Power Centre Class 1, 1408m, off a recent Forbes win and photo second at Dubbo.

Bathurst remains on the worst side of heavy and a major concern for the club is more rain's forecast.

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