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By Ray Hickson

The Golden Pendant might have been the one that got away for Positive Peace but trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping it’s a different story in Saturday’s Group 3 $160,000 Bentley Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The mare ran fourth, beaten 1.6 lengths by Subpeonaed, in the Pendant but being buried three back on the fence is grim at the best of times and it meant Positive Peace couldn’t build up the revs until the race was all over.

With that in mind Baker isn’t too fussed about a draw closer to the outside than in for Positive Peace, given barrier one brought her undone at Rosehill, who he says will look to land on the speed and off the fence in the Angst.

“We’ll be positive but she doesn’t have to lead which she has shown her last couple,’’ Baker said.

“She will roll forward and we will see how it pans out. I thought her run last time was excellent and she looks fantastic.”

Positive Peace, $5.50 with TAB, roared through the grades in the late summer and early autumn and she led most of the way to a Group 2 win in the Emancipation Stakes (1500m) in March.

Baker said it’s never easy to kick off a new preparation at the higher level after making such progress but the Golden Pendant run proved she’s comfortably earned her place.

“I thought this was a good race for her, I’m a little surprised at how strong it is but that’s racing,’’ he said.

“She had an unbelievable preparation last time in, she really continued to improve culminating in that Group 2 win.

“Last start she acquitted herself well, it said she’s definitely up to the grade so that gives you confidence going into Saturday. Her work has been really good, the whole time in I’ve been thrilled with the way she’s going.”

Baker said stablemate Missybeel will likely be ridden conservatively from the outside alley in the Angst after enduring a tough run on the speed second-up in the Tibbie Stakes last month.

The six-year-old is a $34 chance but won the Group 3 Epona Stakes at 1900m in the autumn and Baker is just hoping the race pans out well for her.

“The barrier draw is ging to make it hard but we need to run her,’’ he said.

“She’s actually going really well, her first-up run was very good and she had no luck with the gate last time. She won a Group 3 last time in and she’s not out of it on her best form. We will probably look to get cover this week.”

She’s Ideel has made a habit of running slick sectionals in her three runs back from a spell but is so far winless this spring.

Positive Peace runs fourth at Rosehill on September 26

While she ran sixth at Rosehill two weeks ago She’s Ideel clocked a last 600m of 33.60 (Punter’s Intelligence) and Baker said it was a case of giving away too much start so warns she deserves another chance in the Tresemme Handicap (2000m).

“I think the big positive for her is back to Randwick but she hasn’t drawn a gate this time either,’’ he said.

“I’m very happy with how she’s going, there looks to be a bit of speed in the race so hopefully she can get home.”

Of his two runners in the Antler Luggage Sprint (1000m) the trainer said Miss Invincible “is good on her day, last time she was dogged by wet tracks so back on top of the ground she’s a chance” while new recruit Ambleve “has only had one trial for me but I’ve been impressed with her, I think she goes well and she’s not out of it”.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Royal Randwick meeting