By Craig Kerry
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker hopes an edge in residual fitness can help Caballus upset the Chris Waller triple threat in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Randwick.
Waller’s resuming stars Joliestar ($2.60), Angel Capital ($4.20) and Lady Shenandoah ($3.40) lead the market for the Expressway, which was down to six runners on Thursday.
Caballus winning the listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May last year.Credit: Getty Images
Caballus, next best at $4.80, is also resuming, but the five-year-old is coming off a three-length domination in the group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 6 and a 12.5-length trial victory over 1000m at Rosehill on January 29.
Based on that hit-out, Baker considered a shot at the group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday but opted for the Expressway.
Although a grade below the straight race, the Expressway has multiple group 1 winners in Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah, and one seemingly in waiting in Angel Capital.
Baker said the weight of 56.5 kilograms, less than the Waller trio, was a factor in choosing the Expressway, but he hoped to take the three-time group 3 winner to Melbourne for a major race off the back of Saturday’s run.
“The 1200 probably suits slightly better, 1000 might be a touch on the sharp side, we don’t have to travel and we’ve got Tommy on,” Baker said.
“We haven’t got a lot of options and this race suits him very well in terms of the set weights and penalties, and he comes here with the most recent run under his belt against the big guns.
“He’s got a bit of residual fitness, but he’ll probably need every advantage he can get against these horses.
“But we were very happy with him. He looks great and possibly, just get through this run, but the Newmarket is a good chance as well in three weeks.”
Caballus was a two-year-old winner for Waller before Darby Racing bought him for $315,000 in October 2023. He won back the sale price in his first three starts under Baker.
The stable takes on more Waller stars when Doncaster Mile champion Stefi Magnetica returns in the group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m).
The five-year-old mare was $15 in a race headlined by unbeaten Autumn Glow ($1.55). Waller-trained stablemates Aeliana ($9) and Lindermann ($9.50) and Joe Pride’s Ceolwulf ($6) were the main challengers.
Baker was concerned with the draw in 10 of 10 for Stefi Magnetica, which has been first and second in her two trials back.
She won the $2 million Invitation then was third in the Champions Mile on a heavy track in the spring after illness forced a change in plans.
He said a Doncaster defence, the Queen of the Turf (1600m), or even a rise to the 2000m of the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes were on the table this preparation.
“We’re just going to play it by ear,” he said.
Jockey Jason Collett and trainer Bjorn Baker celebrate Stefi Magnetica’s Doncaster Mile win.Credit: Getty Images
“She’s nominated for the Queen Elizabeth, so that’s an option if she can continue to step up.
“It’s just tough racing, there are a lot of good horses. You’ve only got to look at the fields on Saturday and see what we are up against. We are mindful of that, so we’ll just go run by run.”
The Verry Elleegant Stakes was a potential second-up target.
Meanwhile, he said Golden Slipper hopes Warwoven and Paradoxium were showing positive signs in their returns from injury and illness respectively.
“Warwoven galloped yesterday morning and we were very happy with him, and Paradoxium galloped this morning and we thought he was excellent, very sharp,” he said on Wednesday.
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