Trainer Bjorn Baker is certain unbeaten colt Ozzmosis can tick the 1200m box and consolidate his standing as one of the most exciting sprinters in the land at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).
While he would have jumped at the chance to line up in the $20 million TAB Everest next week, Baker is content with staying in his own age group in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Roman Consul Stakes (1200m).
Ozzmosis passed his first class test with flying colours when he took out the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) at his third race start two weeks ago and Baker said there should be natural improvement from the run.
“I hope so, you never quite know and it’s always a bit tricky to quantify,’’ he said.
“I just think he will be better second run. I have no doubt he improved from his first to second start, 1200m is new ground for him but he’s very well and we hope he can do it again.”
Baker said the toughness Ozzmosis showed when he sat outside the leader and dug in with 200m to go to put the Heritage away was encouraging and that’s a sign the 1200m should be no issue.
With sharp early pace from gate six he expects the colt to be in a similar position in the Roman Consul but Baker said he has faith in Rachel King to make the right moves.
“It sets up similar to last time and Rachel has a lot of belief in him,’’ he said.
“He’s got a lot of natural speed so he jumps pretty well and we’ll just leave it up to her as much as anything.
“He just put himself there the other day, I thought he was exposed earlier than I would have hoped so he was very game and kept finding the line.”
Ozzmosis, $2.40 with TAB on Thursday, completed his build up to Saturday with a “brilliant” gallop on Tuesday morning and Baker said he’s an uncomplicated horse to deal with.
While the Everest will still be there for him next year if the three-year-old continues his rise into 2024, Baker said his next two starts could easily shape his post-racing career.
“It’s very important for him, he’s a Zoustar colt and it’s a Group 2 race and if he can be in the finish it will cement a good home at stud for him,’’ he said.
“One thing I didn’t mind purely from timing was the three weeks between runs (into the Everest) but he’s only had three runs and common sense tells you it’d be hard.”
It’s expected, unless there’s a late Everest call-up and rethink, he’ll head to the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes next.
Consistent mare Diamond Dealer comes back in class in the Cerrone Handicap (1300m) after handling herself well in two shots at Group level in the past month.
She finished fourth in both the Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle and the Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) at Rosehill so Baker can only be confident a Benchmark 78 is a nice target.
“She’s back in grade, has a good gate and Nash rides so we’ll be putting her up there,’’ he said.
“She’s been running well and she should be competitive.”
Prior to her two shots at stakes level, Diamond Dealer won a 1200m Benchmark 88 at Rosehill.
– Racing NSW
