Racing: Grace And Favour one to watch next season

Cambridge trainer Murray Baker is in no rush to over race exciting 4-year-old Grace And Favour despite an impressive return to the racetrack following a three-month break.

Grace And Favour unleashed a blistering home-stretch sprint in the hands of New Zealand's leading jockey Lisa Cropp to score an effortless victory at Tauranga yesterday afternoon.

This victory followed an impressive fresh-up win at Ellerslie on March 28.

"Grace And Favour has come back into training and is in great order. He has looked very impressive in both runs which he has won," said Baker.

"I'm not in a rush to do a lot with this horse as I still think he's six months away from hitting full maturity and over racing him could be a mistake.

"He had three months off before he came back to the track at Ellerslie a few weeks ago and he's really hit a nice, solid patch of form.

"I think in six months' time he'll fill out his massive frame and develop into a very strong racehorse because at the moment he's a big lanky type of racehorse.

"I'll look to start him beyond 1600 metres in his next start and reassess things after that race but a lot will depend on the track conditions," Baker added.

"I'm not sure if he'll handle the track conditions once we have a bit more rain but we'll just take things as they come.

"I think he's going to be a pretty exciting prospect next season during the summer racing carnivals."

- HERALD ON SUNDAY