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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Bjorn Baker is keen to test front-running gelding Amor Victorious beyond a mile this preparation with a view to targeting the Five Diamonds later in the spring.

A second-up win in the Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday would suggest to Baker he’s on the right path and he feels he won’t have to improve much on his return earlier in the month to take catching.

The $2 million Five Diamonds, exclusively for five-year-olds, is run over 1800m on November 9.

“I’ve always thought he’d probably be better over a touch further so that’s the long term plan,’’ Baker said.

Amor Victorious, $4.60 with TAB on Thursday, was run down by Tom Kitten when he resumed over 1400m two weeks ago and it was a performance Baker said was better than it reads.

After setting the speed, the five-year-old managed to stave off the remainder of the field closer to the rails while the winner made his burst down the centre of the track.

He led all the way to an easy win second-up last preparation over the Randwick mile.

“I think 1400m is always a tough ask first-up so he will be better for the run,’’ Baker said.

“It wasn’t really a leaderish day that day so hopefully Rosehill plays a bit more even.

Amor Victorious runs second at Rosehill on August 17

“I thought he was good and it looks a good race for him. Hopefully he’s made good improvement and if that’s the case he should be very competitive.”

Last start Warwick Farm mile winner All In The Mind also has a distance test in the Campbelltown Catholic Club Handicap (2000m).

The import hasn’t raced beyond 1609m in his 18 start career and Baker hopes Josh Parr can use the inside gate to put him to sleep and give him the chance to be strong at the finish.

“He can be hit and miss, he’s got to be switched off early but 2000m is something we’ve always thought he’d get over,’’ he said.

“He looks great, I’m happy with how he’s going.”

Baker was leaning toward Shezanalister taking her place alongside stablemates Thunderlips and Battleton in the Mounties Group Handicap (1200m) but she also accepted for Sunday’s Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong.

He said the mare was game in defeat in the Group 2 Missile Stakes last start and expects she’ll hold her form in whatever race she runs in.

“She has got a good gate on Saturday so it’s hard to avoid that,’’ he said.

“She was good in the Missile, I’m pretty happy with her. She’s holding her condition throughout the prep.”

Meanwhile, Group 1 winners Stefi Magnetica and Overpass are close to trialling as their spring preparations gather momentum.

The Warwick Farm trainer said Overpass would resume on TAB Everest Day, if he gains a slot in the $20 million race he’ll run there if not the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) is the fallback.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Rosehill meeting