Racing: Bakers push for repeat

Photo / Sarah Ivey

Class filly We Can Say It Now may back up in next Saturday's Captain Cook Stakes after her stylish win in the group one Levin Classic (1600m) at Otaki yesterday.

Cambridge trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker had high hopes of winning the $1 million 2000 Guineas at Riccarton earlier this month with the Starcraft filly, but she suffered severe interference late in the race, finishing fifth before being promoted a place after Magic Briar was relegated.

They missed out on the major prize, with yesterday's race worth $800,000 less than at Riccarton, but were thrilled to get black type for her pedigree page.

She drew the inside barrier yesterday, a worry for the trainers as she is a big horse who needs space, but jockey Leith Innes was able to get her off the rails at the 700m and she loomed up on the outside, taking the lead early in the straight and galloping clear before the fast-finishing Blinding cut her winning margin to three-quarters of length.

Lady Kipling, also trained by the Bakers, powered home for third.

Bjorn Baker was ecstatic at yesterday's win. "She's a super filly, we have rated her from day one," he told Trackside TV.

He paid credit to Innes, who rode We Can Say It Now's sire Starcraft to win the Mudgway Stakes in 2004. Australian Paul Makin was the owner then - and again yesterday.

"We will have to have to talk with Paul Makin, and see how she comes through the race, but we will give some consideration to the Captain Cook," Baker said. The filly will be a great drawcard for the Wellington Racing Club's group one feature a week away if she lines up.

Blinding's jockey Noel Harris said the one-win filly put in a huge run.

"She's just a little bit green and probably six months away. With every race she's learning and if she is more switched on she's good enough to win."

Jimmy Choux pulled up short, some 50 lengths behind the winner.

We Can Say It Now's winning time was 1min 24.27sec.

Earlier, the smart sprinting mare Celeris won the $45,000 Levin Stakes, proving too strong in the straight from Stupendous and Tip The Wink. Celeris is now trained by former jockey Leo Molloy at Byerley Park, Pukekohe, and he was enjoying his first stakes success as a trainer.

The owners were keen to race the mare at the feature sprints at Ellerslie over Christmas, he said.

- NZPA