Racing: Injury setback for Lion Tamer

Co-trainer Bjorn Baker has said that it is unlikely Lion Tamer will come to Melbourne this autumn. Photo / NZ Herald

An injury setback for Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer has thrust his emerging stablemate We Can Say It Now into Melbourne's autumn carnival spotlight, with the filly now being aimed at the A$1 million Australian Guineas at Flemington in March.

Lion Tamer's co-trainer Bjorn Baker told The Age that Lion Tamer was now unlikely to come to Melbourne this autumn.

Instead he would be set solely for the Sydney classics, culminating in the AJC Derby, after receiving an untimely cut to his hock.

"It's a minor setback but the cut is in an awkward spot so we just have to let it heal before he can resume full work," Baker said yesterday.

"It shouldn't affect his AJC Derby plans but it means that the filly We Can Say It Now will go to Melbourne for the Australian Guineas.

"She's pretty exciting. I know there wasn't much depth in her last win but she's a spring 3-year-old filly who managed the older horses pretty easily. She has a great nature and a good temperament as well."

We Can Say It Now was bred by Paul Makin, by his international winning stallion Starcraft out of his mare We Can't Say That.

After starting her career with a maiden win at Matamata in May, she progressed to the top level in New Zealand in only seven runs.

At her past two outings she has won the Levin Classic (1600m) for fillies and then beat the best weight-for-age gallopers by four lengths in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

"She's just come back from a short break and she's in top shape," Baker said.

"We've got her set for a 1400m group one race here in mid-February before sending her over for the Guineas and then we'll look at Sydney with her."

Baker said Lion Tamer, who won the Victoria Derby by 6 lengths before being spelled immediately, could race first up in New Zealand but should be ready for the Randwick Guineas in March and then the Rosehill Guineas and AJC Derby in April.

"He'd come back well from his spell but we just have to wait a bit with him now," he said.

"The AJC Derby has always been his main autumn goal so we're working towards that."

The Australian raid by the highly successful training team of Baker and his father Murray does not stop at Lion Tamer and We Can Say That Now.

Last spring's Caulfield Cup runner-up Harris Tweed is also back in work and is being aimed at the Australian Cup at Flemington in March.

"He's really due a big one and we're just hoping it can be the Australian Cup," Baker said.

The performance of 3-year-old filly Twilight Savings in the Telegraph Handicap over 1200m at Trentham on January 22 will determine whether she, too, will come to Australia this autumn for the group two Kewney Stakes at Flemington on March 12.

- AAP