Craig Kerry
Bjorn Baker was ready to open Blue Door to Everest slot-holders after the filly led and kicked clear to win the group 3 Heritage Stakes (1100m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
The three-year-old Stay Inside filly, owned by advertising guru John Singleton, came back from seconds in the Rosebud and San Domenico Stakes to win by two and a quarter lengths in 1:02:64 under Nash Rawiller. Guest House set an 1100m track record of 1:02:41 when beating her in the San Domenico.
Front-running speed is so far missing among Ka Ying Rising’s challengers in the $20 million Everest (1200m) on October 17 at Randwick, and Blue Door would carry just 51 kilograms in the race. Tempted finished second to Ka Ying Rising last year carrying the weight. It is believed slot-holders were in talks about Blue Door immediately after the win.
“I tell you what, no weight, weight for age, there’s a race in about three weeks,” Baker said in reference to the race where just Headwall, Ninja and Ka Ying Rising are confirmed.
“Singo, are you there?” he said down the TV camera. “I’d love to take you to the Everest if you’re keen.
“She would really add [that] dynamic to the race. She’s a fast filly. She had to carry a bit more weight today. She’s got natural gate speed.”
Asked if she could handle the jump to 1200m, the Kiwi trainer looked for inspiration from a famous countryman.
“When Edmund Hillary was just getting to the final steps of the Everest, he got a bit tired, too, but he found a way,” he said.
Baker, meanwhile, was looking to the group 3 St Leger Stakes (2600m) on Everest day with So You Are after he had to find late to hold off Amplify by a half neck in the Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).
The five-year-old was a $2.15 favourite in the six-horse group 3 after winning a listed 2400m race at his most recent start.
Baker had hoped to get So You Are into the $5 million Caulfield Cup, but he was 68th in the order of entry with 51 kilograms, prompting the trainer to look to the St Leger on the same day.
“There’s obviously the Caulfield Cup, but he’d be flat getting into that,” he said.
“But we might look at the St Leger, it could be a good race for him here, then maybe down to Melbourne. A little bit depends on where he is in the order and the scheme of things as well.”
He said Thebudgiesmugla, 73rd and also with 51kg for the Caulfield Cup, would run next week in the group 2 Metropolitan at Randwick.
Also in the Metropolitan will be Pinhole, after the Chris Waller-trained five-year-old edged out Starzintheireyes in 1900m benchmark 88 handicap. Waller said Soul Of Spain, with James McDonald aboard, will probably be his top seed in the race, which was demoted to group 2 status this year. Travolta and Valiant King were others possibly in the race, although Waller said there will be dual acceptors in the Bart Cummings at Flemington, with an eye on the weather.
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