Country champion takes step in the right direction after freak setback

Baker had been worried the 1000m would be too sharp a one-off effort for Warwoven, but he was now looking confidently towards the January 17 Classic.

“I know after today’s win it will suit him better to get to 1100 or even 1200 in the Magic Millions, so it’s very exciting,” Baker said.

“We’ll just weigh it up, we might probably give it another try.”

Baker, who won the Classic with O’Ole last year, also has Wyong MM Classic winner Paradoxium as the $3.50 favorite for the race. Filly Masvingo is another potential starter and will race at Randwick next week.

Shiki, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, finished fourth and dropped from $4.50 to $8 in the Classic. Norman’s Cay, trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, finished second but withdrew from the race with a broken cannon bone near his front foot and may never race again.

Plaintiff asserts betting target

Trainer Peter Snowden will focus on late autumn and winter targets with the unbeaten filly Claimant after completing her training with a third victory in Sydney.

The Zoustar-Prompt Response three-year-old, a $2.2 million buy for John Camilleri, started favorite ($2.80) in the 72 handicap (1300m) at Randwick following wins at Rosehill in midweek and Saturday to start his career.

He came from the last of Chad Schofield to run from a neck at Shady Road and brand himself as a potential star of the future.

Snowden said Plaintiff would work for a short time before fall preparations, but he wasn’t sure there was a definitive path.

He said the Group 1 Circumference Stakes at Randwick on February 28 was “on the radar but it will come very soon” and he believed he was better than group 3 targets such as the PJ Bell and James HB Carr Stakes.

“There’s not a lot of racing around here, but I’m sure he’ll make his mark here and probably then go to the Brisbane winter carnival for some good racing,” Snowden said.

“It’s more important for me to teach him how to be a racehorse rather than going there reluctantly, willingly and not wanting the right races.

“The groundwork is now done, he is trained. We know his talent, we know he can race up front or behind, he is very adaptable and has great turn of foot, so I’m sure good things will happen in the future.”

The good brother surrenders for Pride

Trainer Joe Pride was torn between chasing another city benchmark race or resting King’s Secret before moving up to betting level in the autumn following his dominant win at Randwick on Saturday.

King’s Secret, out of the same mare as Pride’s $12.8 million money-earning Private Eye, extended his record to five wins, reaching four placings in 10 starts and finishing second in the 94 handicap at 1100m to win by one and three-quarter lengths.

Zac Lloyd put King’s Secret, the $2.25 TAB favorite and the day’s favorite, behind the leader Endeavor before the four-year-old easily shook him off in the closing stages.

Pride said he has no doubt King’s Secret is at risk, but he’s not sure what’s next.

“He has the speed and acceleration to get himself into the race,” Pride said.

“I’m not sure he’s Private Detective, but he’s a good brother.

“It’ll be 1200 here in a few weeks, reference 88, or should I give it a little refresh and have some fun at the carnival? There’s a lot to think about.”

The Canterbury Sprint (1200m), listed for New Year’s Day, was another option Pride did not rule out.

The key to highway victory is chasing cows

Trainer Paul Snowden said Navy Buoy will return to his grazing life chasing cows after winning the Grade 3 Highway Handicap race at Randwick on Saturday.

Navy Buoy ($4.20 favorite), a $30,000 online purchase of Anthony Manton in July, made it three wins in four starts, with Snowden leading the way and striking clear for a three-and-a-half length victory. It was the Port Macquarie trainer’s second win in the Speedway class after two attempts.

Snowden said he was “making a mess” between runs with the four-year-old, who was a six-start girl when she joined his stable, which is scheduled to grow from 15 boxes to 23 boxes in the new year.

“He’ll go out in the paddock for about a week, end up in the water a little bit, chase cows around, so that’s another thing I do with him,” Snowden said.

“It’s very subtle stuff, but it flips the switch.

“I think we’ll find another reference race this time of year, let’s just keep moving forward a little bit and who knows what it will turn into. It might end up in a Port.” [Macquarie] Glass.”

Easy search with the rest of Lees is on the horizon

Newcastle coach Kris Lees was eyeing the home trophy – and even better goals – with Brave Call after the import showed his ability and versatility to stay at Randwick on Saturday.

The five-year import, who had one victory in England before coming to Australia, backed up a soft 7 surface win over 2000 meters at Kembla on Gong day with a fine 4 track victory over 2400 meters on Saturday a month later. Tommy Berry rode Brave Call last on the turn and eventually followed runner-up King Pedro into the race, shadowing him with his short neck. This was Brave Call’s first crack at extra travel, earning Berry a double the day after his win at Navy Buoy.

Lees said Brave Call was a horse with a good 12 months ahead of him and a lot of upside. He said Brave Call could grow ahead of his return to the Brisbane winter carnival campaign in the autumn and a potential shot at the Newcastle Cup (2300) in the spring. Lees has won the hometown cup just once in 2020 with Mugatoo.