Racing: Baker pair to fore in Guineas

Photo / Richard Robinson

The TAB has Murray and Bjorn Baker's two fillies $13 and $5 for tomorrow's $1 million 2000 Guineas at Riccarton.

We Can Say It Now is second favourite at $5 behind $3.50 favourite He's Remarkable and Twilight Savings is at $13.

Murray Baker would probably have them slightly apart, but not to that degree.

"I suppose you could argue that ideally Twilight Savings would have had a 1400m race leading up to this, but we ran out of time."

Twilight Savings was brilliant in coming from the tail of the field to win at weight-for-age at Rotorua over 1200m on October 16.

"She would have been better off if we'd been able to give her a 1400m race as well, but we didn't have the time," said Baker.

"She had a number of setbacks and we couldn't even get a trial into her before Rotorua."

But don't imagine the stable is writing off the chances of Twilight Savings.

"We're very happy with her and in her favour is that she's won on the course."

In contrast to Twilight Savings' lead-up, We Can Say It Now has had a trial and two 1400m races going into tomorrow.

We Can Say It Now scored a head-shaking win in the Jim and Anne Sarten Memorial at Te Rapa.

Head-shaking because mid-race when they were breaking the race record, Mark Du Plessis could only just make her go slow enough, which re-defines high cruising speed.

The 1600m this time should suit her even better and so should Riccarton.

Chief bookie Thad Taylor explained the $3.50 on He's Remarkable.

"It's short and it reflects the liability we have for the horse."

One double and one multi bet alone laid in the first half of September represent a payout of $245,000 for the TAB.

On September 9, one punter invested $1000 on So You Think to win the Cox Plate at $3.80, Rafael Nadal to win the US Open and He's Remarkable to win the 2000 Guineas. The payout will be $124,000.

Six days later, someone claimed the TAB for $121,000 to $2000 on the So You Think - He's Remarkable double.

"That $3.80 about So You Think in the Cox Plate looks incredible now, doesn't it?

"So anyone can see, we're not keen to accept any more money for He's Remarkable.

"He was always going to be well backed and one of the favourites, but I don't think he'll start as short as $3.50," said Taylor.

"The $3,50 is a bit short of his real price and the market is telling us that."

2000 Guineas

* TAB is up for huge payouts if He's Remarkable wins.

* It has pushed out the price of several runners, including the Baker fillies We Can Say It Now and Twilight Savings.

* The TAB had He's Remarkable as short as $3.50 yesterday.

Mike Dillon's punting pointers:

2000 Guineas
Top pick: We Can Say It now in a hot line-up. Remarkable at Te Rapa.

The emerger
Hammer Down. Huge winning in easier grade last time.

Forget last time
Cellarmaster. No luck this prep and wet track a problem last start. Deserves a change of luck.

Flashing home from the 200m
He's Remarkable. Stayer who may find 1600m a touch short. Will be flying to the line.

Rough place bet at long odds
Hoofit at 30-1.

Punters' dream
Watching a Melbourne Cup each week.

A medal please
For the 90,000 who got drenched on Derby Day at Flemington, lost their cash and kept their sense of humour. Remarkable.

Americain
Melbourne Cup winner who is an equine George Clooney.