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By Ray Hickson

It’s taken a little longer for Bonita Queen to come into her own as a racehorse than trainer Bjorn Baker expected but he’s adamant there are more rungs to climb as she faces her stiffest test at Rosehill on Saturday.

Bonita Queen, who races in the same colours as stablemate and recently anointed TAB Everest runner Stefi Magnetica, set her owners back $550,000 so she’s always carried some expectation.

Baker said on the evidence of her two recent runaway wins at Warwick Farm there's no reason to think she can’t take the class rise in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1100m) in her stride.

“She was an expensive mare and I guess early on she showed a lot but she tended to get to the races and was a bit highly strung,’’ Baker said.

“She ended up growing quite significantly so she’s taken a bit of time to grow into her frame.

“Now she’s relaxing better and parading better, she’s a bit more mature and she’s doing things the right way.”

The four-year-old, who will line up alongside stablemate Shezanalister in the race, struck a soft 7 at her debut and finished second but hasn’t experienced anything near those conditions in her seven starts since.

Extremely Hardys runs fifth in a Rosehill trial on September 16

That’s a small worry for Baker when it comes to Rosehill but he said you have to find out if you’re going to progress to a higher level.

A look back through her form reveals a barrier trial win in December on a soft 7 where she came from off the pace and sailed past Stefi Magnetica and another in July where she led and accounted for Terra Mater so perhaps she’s adjusting.

“I’m concerned about the wet weather but she’s going very well and has fitness on her side,’’ Baker said.

“She’s had a trial since her last win, it was a good trial and she was fairly relaxed that day. I think she is a stakes horse in the waiting.

“I think if they go quick enough she could sit off them but she’s better being right there.”

The Warwick Farm trainer has turned to blinkers with front-running gelding Amor Victorious to spark him up in the Group 2 $300,000 Canadian Club Shannon Stakes (1500m).

It’s not that he’s run badly in two starts since a break, with placings behind Tom Kitten and Ceolwulf reading well on paper, but Baker said he’s looking for an edge to go along with the 4.5kg drop in weight on his last start.

“His first two runs have not been quite as good as I hoped but he was up against two very good horses, the winners out of the races are high class,’’ he said.

“His work on Tuesday suggested he might be coming back into the fold.

“He’ll put himself right there, he does get good weight relief and he’s a horse we always thought was up to this level.”

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