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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Bjorn Baker is testing out the Big Dance credentials of lightly raced four-year-olds Hollywood Hero and Iknowastar with their respective assignments at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos)

Country Cups and Dubbo and Bathurst in September are in Baker’s mind with the duo but he says they will need to be competitive in midweek company to warrant trips to the Central West.

Hollywood Hero is back in grade in the Ranvet Handicap (1600m) following a midfield finish behind Principessa after leading at Randwick on August 19.

“I’d love him to go well, we could have a look at a race like the Dubbo Cup or the Bathurst Cup,’’ Baker said.

“He’s always shown a lot and he’s always been a very nice horse.

“I have got a good opinion of him, I think he’s better than what you’ve seen so far but he’s got to start to deliver soon enough.”

Jason Collett reunites with Hollywood Hero, $3.50 with TAB on Tuesday, after combining to run a close second behind Ivan’s Hero at Rosehill a few weeks ago and Baker said if he runs up to that effort he should be hard to beat.

“He’s got a bit of weight to contend with but Jason gets on well with him,’’ he said.

“It’s a bit of an awkward gate but we’ll play it by ear, we’ll have a good look at the scratchings in the morning and make a plan.”

Iknowastar won four races on end in the country last preparation before Baker threw him into the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and he was more than satisfied with the gelding’s first-up effort.

He kicked off at 1250m and held his own running fourth behind Whinchat at Canterbury and Baker said his only reservation is whether he’s looking for more ground than he gets in the ACY Securities Handicap (1300m).

“He tends to take a few runs to get to his best form but his first-up run was good. I think he is in for a good prep,’’ he said.

“Maybe we could look at one of the Big Dance races for him, I think he’s a better horse once he gets up over a mile and can free flow.”

Baker won the Big Dance eligible Murwillumbah Cup last Friday with Wategos to put him in the mix for the $3 million feature at Randwick on November 7.

Meanwhile, three-year-old Infatuation has the chance to bounce back in the Schweppes Handicap (1200m) on Wednesday and Baker said he’d be disappointed if she doesn’t.

The filly was runner-up in the Golden Gift and ran fourth in the Magic Millions last season but she’s been at or near the tail in her two runs back.

Infatuation finished last in the Rosebud behind Tiz Invincible at Rosehill second-up but Baker did see some merit in it.

Hollywood Hero runs second at Rosehill on August 5

“I thought her run was better than the result suggests last time. She wasn’t beaten far,’’ he said.

“It probably turned into a sprint home which didn’t suit her. We’ll aim to be very positive, she’ll be able to jump and put herself right there.

“She’s a high class filly on her day back to midweek grade. I’m confident she’s somewhere back to her best and if that’s the case she should be in the finish.”

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting