News

Baker's no Bjorn-again Mr Nice Guy

22nd Sep 2016

Bjorn Baker says Rod Northam is a “champion bloke’’ but not that good that he’s prepared to hand him $25,000 for nothing.

Baker and Northam sit on two wins apiece in the 2014 Inglis Yearling Sale graduates race series, heading into Saturday’s final race, the Inglis Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.

They are the only trainers still eligible for a $50,000 bonus to the trainer of the most winners in the series, and only Baker has a runner in the $250,000 Inglis Cup, saddling up four-year-old mare Rosaleisha.

If Rosaleisha wins, not only will her owners share in the first-prize spoils of $137,500 but Baker will take home the $50,000 bonus.

If Rosaleisha doesn’t win, Baker and Northam will share the $50,000.

“I know Rod pretty well and I think nearly everyone would agree when I say he’s a champion bloke, but I won’t lie – I’d much rather the $50,000 in my pocket than giving half to him,’’ Baker laughed.

“But seriously, this Inglis race series has been great to me over the past couple of years, I’ve won four or five of the races so to be in the running for the winning bonus heading into the last race of this series is great.’’

Rosaleisha (Testa Rossa x Galeisha) was a $90,000 Inglis Premier purchase for Baker.

She has won two of her nine career starts, including the 3YO Inglis Bonus race at Albury during their carnival in March.

Baker’s other win for this series was Lady Sniper in the 3YO Inglis Sprint at Randwick last December.

Rosaleisha is on the third line of TAB betting at $7 to win the Inglis Cup.

The Inglis Cup is race 4 at Caulfield on Saturday, scheduled to be run at 2.15pm.