Bjorn Baker is strongly considering a trip to Melbourne during Cup week after Rock Forthe Ladies produced a gutsy win in the Filante Handicap (1400m) at Randwick on Saturday, his first victory since switching from Peter Moody's stable.
Rock Forthe Ladies moved up to Baker's stable after Moody retired from training in March and he registered a deserved win, overhauling the tough Religify, with Destiny's Kiss back in third.
The Sydney trainer has circled the greys race on Oaks day at Flemington in his calendar, a benchmark 90 Handicap over 1400m for the country's dappled gallopers with $100,000 up for grabs.
It'll mean a return to slightly more familiar surroundings for the five-year-old, who won the greys' race at Moonee Valley this time last year on Manikato Stakes night.
"He's going to get a few rating points for that [win] unfortunately but we'll probably still have a good look at that race depending on how he pulls up," Baker said.
"He's a Magic Millions horse too so we've got a lot of options going forward.
"I thought he'd run well today, he definitely wants a better track and I think that he floundered that last bit but it's good to see him do that. He's definitely up to Saturday grade.
"Peter Moody did all the hard work, I'm just lucky to get a ready-made horse. I was just the lucky beneficiary."
Jockey Jason Collett kicked off the Randwick meeting riding the first two winners aboard Invincibella and Fifteen Sunflowers before making it a treble in the last, steering The Anthony Cummings-trained Muraqaba to a bobbing win over Choice We Had.
Apprentice James Innes Jr copped a five-meeting suspension for careless riding in that race, after allowing his mount to shift out and cause interference approaching the 200m.
Meanwhile, jockey Josh Parr's plea to connections on Friday to scratch Nieta from the night meeting at Canterbury in favour of a shot at $100,000 in prizemoney at Randwick on Saturday paid dividends.
Trainer John Thompson heeded the advice, bypassed the races at Canterbury and Nieta did her part by racking up a third win from four starts in the Geohex Benchmark 76 Handicap (1000m).
The difference in prizemoney was more than $30,000.
"I spoke to Robyn Hartney, John's racing manager, and I said surely we go for the hundred thousand rather than the 40,000 of last night," Parr said.
"I went to the extent of pleading her to run here today rather than last night which is fortunate for me. I knew I was riding her today and Tye Angland was on her last night."
Parr settled Nieta midfield and stayed off the fence before peeling widest at the top of the straight and running over the top of them with an impressive turn of foot.
Top Striker ran a game second with Rose Of Man finishing third on the inside.
Saturday's ride was the first time Parr had ever sat on the horse, and should he retain his spot in the saddle there could be much more in store for Thompson's four-year-old mare including a tilt at next year's Brisbane winter carnival.
Nieta failed horribly at Warwick Farm last start on a heavy track beaten 17 lengths, but it was the step up to seven furlongs and not the rain that did the most damage.
Back to 1000m on Saturday she never looked like being beaten, and the Listed Silk Stocking (1200m) at Gold Coast and the Listed Juanmo Stakes (1200m) shape as ideal options for the mare should Thompson pursue a Queensland winter path.
"That'd be perfect, that's probably her go," Parr said.
"She's got the turn of foot. Her only issue is just what distance she'll get to, she went to 1400 last time and failed and I can see that after riding her today why that was. She's just a real sprinter, 1000, 1100 and possibly six furlongs at the better grade.
"She's push button. There's no tricks to her, very easy to ride and she's got the ability to go with it.
"She's moving through her grades at a rapid rate. She's destined for better things."
