Racing: Baker at odds with bookies' confidence

Trainer Stephen McKee is confident Mufhasa will be hard to beat in the Waikato Draught Sprint on Saturday. Photo / NZPA

Training young gun Bjorn Baker thinks the TAB has got its market for the race of the season wrong - even though he trains the favourite.

Baker and father Murray will unleash star filly We Can Say It Now fresh-up in the $200,000 Waikato Draught Sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday, one of the glamour days of the season.

The fields for all three features contain horses pencilled in for Australian campaigns, with others taking the next step to Auckland Cup Week.

But as good as the fields are for the Sir Tristram Classic, featuring Kings Rose against Dating, and the Darci Brahma International, headed by Booming, the sprint is shaping as one of the races of the season.

It pits We Can Say It Now against last-start Emirates Stakes winner Wall Street, last-start Telegraph hero Mufhasa, southern speed freak Coup Align, having his last start for Michael Pitman; and local heroine Keep The Peace.

Which has Baker cautiously confident but pondering the TAB bookmaker's market.

"Our filly is super and I think she is ready to run a race," said Baker.

"But to have her the favourite against those tough older horses is a big ask.

"I am sure she can win but Wall Street and Mufhasa have been there, done that in Australia against the real guns so this is a far bigger test than when she won the Captain Cook."

So much respect do the Bakers have for the hardened warriors We Can Say It Now meets on Saturday, Bjorn says even a respectable placing will keep her on target for the Australian Guineas on March 5.

That group one was thrown wide open yesterday when early favourite Star Witness was a battling third, albeit after racing on the worst part of the track, in his comeback at Sandown.

That saw him drift from $6 to $8 in the market, with We Can Say It Now now equal second favourite at $10.

Talking about markets, Baker says Mufhasa could be the one punters should take notice of at a $6 opening quote in Saturday's Sprint.

"He is race hard, whereas both our filly and Wall Street can't be and he will love the 1400m," said Baker.

Mufhasa's trainer Stephen McKee agreed, saying he couldn't be happier and is unconcerned by barrier nine.

"I think Coup Align will lead and we will be able to get up outside him, second or third," said McKee.

"From there he will get his chance because he galloped well on Tuesday and I think 1400m is his best distance.

"I know Wall Street and We Can Say It Now are very good but if they beat us this week we won't have any excuses."

While the sprint will provide punters with plenty of fun - and reasons to keep an eye on the weather in the next two days - the other two glamour races on Saturday have far more pronounced favourites.

Booming opened a $3.50 shot in the International, while King's Rose, is rated a $2.80 chance.

GLAMOUR DAY

* We Can Say It Now has opened favourite in one of the races of the season at Te Rapa on Saturday.

* Co-trainer Bjorn Baker says that is a huge call by the TAB bookmakers.

* Booming and King's Rose head other markets on Te Rapa's biggest day of the season.