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By Ray Hickson

Renaissance Woman has come a long way since she won a Scone maiden in July and trainer Bjorn Baker wouldn’t put it past her to be right amongst the money in Saturday’s Group 1 $2m Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).

Baker said the filly came through her win at Caulfield last weekend in such great shape he sees the newly positioned Group 1 at Royal Randwick as an ideal step towards her spring goal.

Fillies are building a powerful record in the Spring Champion, winning three of the last six, with Montefilia (2020) the latest to beat the boys.

“The race has been pushed back and that’s what brings it in as a lead in to the Oaks,’’ Baker said.

“It’s a race I’ve had a few runners in and I think she is well set up.

“It’s not an easy race but at the end of the day if she is hitting the line we will be thrilled. I’m very happy with how she has come through her last run.”

On the back of her last to first win in the Ethereal Stakes (2000m), Renaissance Woman was a $10 chance with TAB and she has Rachel King, who won her first Group 1 in the race in 2018 on another filly Maid Of heaven, to ride.

She’s raced at Randwick twice, in the Tea Rose and Flight Stakes, for midfield finishes but Baker said she’s always wanted more ground and won‘t be changing anything with her.

“Once she gets beyond a mile she’s a different horse,’’ he said.

Renaissance Woman wins the Ethereal Stakes 🐎 @JoshuaParr8 @BBakerRacing pic.twitter.com/qx6A5TXa4f

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 15, 2022

“She’s one of those fillies that can stay, and often they stay or not regardless of what work they do.

“She has a great pedigree, by Reliable Man and he’s got a great record over ground as a stallion.

While Renaissance Woman is very much the emerging filly, She’s Extreme is already proven at Group 1 level and trainer Anthony Cummings has had his sights set on the Spring Champion from the start of the spring.

She downed Fireburn in the Champagne Stakes (1600m) back in April and showed she was on target with her second placing behind Zougotcha in the Flight three weeks ago.

“She’s in great shape. I was as happy as you can be when you run second out of the Flight Stakes,’’ Cummings said on Sky Sports Radio.

“She goes into this race and will present the best she has this preparation.

“She’s got a pedigree that lends itself to 2000m and everything she has done along the way points us in that direction.”

With Tommy Berry suspended this week, Glyn Schofield has the ride on She’s Extreme.

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