By Ray Hickson Form around Foxplay, Mr Sneaky, Arbeitsam and Raiment should be good enough to be competitive in a Benchmark 80, right? That’s the credentials of the newly gelded Redouble who makes his debut for the Bjorn Baker stable at Randwick on Saturday. TAB Fixed Odds is keeping the four-year-old safe as an $8.50 chance in the Metropolitan Civilian Contractors Handicap (1200m) and Baker said there’s a lot to like about the horse. “The one question mark is he is first-up with just the one trial and we are still learning with him,’’ he said.
“He has drawn well and it looks too good an opportunity to pass up. He had a really good jump out prior to the trial that we were thrilled with. “He looks fit and all indications are that he can run a big race.” Redouble won on debut at Canterbury and was Listed placed at his second start. Last preparation he resumed with a second to Raiment and rounded out the campaign with a fifth to Foxplay in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes. Baker is expecting improvement from Impavido in the Adina Apartment Hotels Handicap (1600m) after running seventh first-up since the ATC Derby behind stablemate Sir Plush. He said the gelding came through the race well and will be better suited up to the mile. “I thought he was okay, they did go a real solid pace and he was still there at the finish boxing on,’’ he said. “He’s a good horse on his day and you only have to go back to his Randwick Guineas run (fourth) and his run before that (third to Dawn Wall). ‘’If he gets back to that form he’s in there with a chance.’’ Baker reported he's injury free after a mishap in a game of backyard basketball (see tweet) that has seen him become a minor internet sensation.
May need to stick to my day job ?? #DadSkittles pic.twitter.com/XdRY7IUttv
— Bjorn Baker (@BBakerRacing) October 5, 2017
As for Sir Plush, who moves into open company in the Bowermans Office Furniture Handicap (1400m), Baker sees no reason he can’t repeat the dose with just 53.5kg. “He’ll be positive again and he has bounced through that run, his work on Tuesday was outstanding and he seems to have improved through the preparation and he looks stronger,’’ he said. “I think he is a horse that at times as struggled with big weights so he’s down in the weights and will be able to be on speed.’’ And Baker said Imposing Lass shouldn’t be underestimated in the Group 3 $150,000 Angst Stakes (1600m). The consistent mare was placed in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill last month and was in the finish of three successive feature mares races prior to that. “Up to a mile at Randwick is more of her go than any run this preparation,’’ Baker said. “She’ll put herself in the first four or five and hopefully we see the best of her.’’ Check out the form, fields and replays for Royal Randwick on Saturday