Bjorn Baker has long made a point of targeting the Queensland winter carnival and on Saturday he got his reward with his first group 1 win from Music Magnate in the Doomben 10,000. Next up he has Imposing Lass in Saturday's Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm.
The Makfi filly has won the Gold Coast Bracelet and was third in the Doomben Roses in preparation for the Oaks, and possibly the Derby a week later, in a program mapped out after her summer preparation.
"Music Magnate and Imposing Lass were always going to target Brisbane," Baker said. "It was partly timing but the right races were there for them and that's what you want to get for your horses – the right races at the right time.
"We have had a high opinion of both them but we were patient and it worked with Music Magnate on Saturday. He went into the 10,000 as one of the only horses that had targeted this carnival and got the job done.
"It is something you plan for and dream about and to have that group 1 in my own right was a big thrill. It is the same with Imposing Lass."
Music Magnate will continue to the Stradbroke on Queen's Birthday weekend after he pulled up well from his convincing win in the Doomben 10,000, which was run at frantic tempo after favourite Fell Swoop and Hooked got charging in the first half of the race.
Baker has waited for Imposing Lass to mature, preferring the final classics of the season than chasing the big money on offer during The Championships in Sydney. She is yet to miss a place in the six starts, including four wins, and Baker has been delighted as she has stepped up in trip.
"She is out of a Zabeel mare and just needed a long break after her last prep, so we did that and you can see the benefit," Baker said.
"I have no worries at all about her staying the trip, the family is full of stayers.
"This is the race we have been waiting for on the big track and if she runs well she is still in the Derby."
Imposing Lass is the $6 favourite for the Oaks with Ladbrokes, in front of Provocative at $7, which is on the borderline of getting a start. The Tony Pike-trained filly sits outside the field and could be saved for the Derby a week later.
Dawnie Prefect, which won the Ethereal Stakes during the Melbourne spring and was fourth in the Wakeful Stakes, is another set for Saturday and is at $8 along with Falkenberg, while recent Sydney winner Romantic Maid is $9.
Blake Shinn takes over on Falkenberg, which was among a raft of hard luck stories from Kebede's Roses. She will be one of three runners for Peter and Paul Snowden with Self Esteem and Tap This, a winner at the Gold Coast on Saturday, also to line up.
