Racing: Ready to tame the Australians

Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer looks in great order for his spring campaign. Photo / Getty Images

One of the men who steered him to Victoria Derby glory may be gone, but Lion Tamer is set to resume where he left off.

The 4-year-old galloping superstar looked ready for his return to Melbourne next week when he easily accounted for stablemate Harris Tweed in a track gallop between races at Waipa yesterday.

The pair were not asked for spectacular sectionals over 1200m and while there was only a length between them at the line, Lion Tamer in the hands of Rogan Norvall was travelling much the better.

Which is exactly what his connections wanted as Lion Tamer will take the hard road to the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup, clashing with Australia's weight-for-age elite.

He could have opted for the first leg, the Makfi Challenge Stakes, of the Hawkes Bay Triple Crown on Saturday week but will, instead, head to Caulfield for the Memsie Stakes.

"That won't be an easy race first-up but the way he galloped today we think he can handle it," said assistant trainer Andrew Forsman.

"We thought he might be a little pretty for today's gallop but Rogan was thrilled when he got off.

"It was touch and go for a while where he went for his comeback race but he will now do his entire racing prep for the big ones in Melbourne."

Forsman has taken over as the new second in charge for Lion Tamer's trainer Murray Baker after the latter's son and former training partner Bjorn moved from Cambridge to Sydney.

"Bjorn left a few weeks ago and already has about 10 horses to work with over there and he might also get horses from us over here when the owners think they don't have the right racing opportunities in this country."

But the split means Bjorn won't be in any way part of the Team Baker when Lion Tamer and Harris Tweed return to Melbourne next week.

So no chance of Bjorn's unforgettable victory celebrations after Lion Tamer's Victoria Derby domination last year.

Lion Tamer could also need a new rider early in his campaign, with Derby winning jock Hugh Bowman possibly unavailable for his second race.

"Hugh will ride him in the Memsie but he has a potential clash with a horse he has to ride in a big race in Sydney the same day as our second start," said Forsman. "But we will cross that bridge after the first race."

Lion Tamer is being set for the glamour double of the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup whereas Harris Tweed will attempt the more traditional Caulfield-Melbourne Cup path.

Last season, Harris Tweed ran second in the Caulfield Cup after earlier carrying plenty of weight to win the Bart Cummings Handicap over 2500m at Flemington.

"Harris Tweed is in good shape, too, and James [McDonald] rode him yesterday and said he galloped well, too.

"He will start off in the Makybe Diva over the mile a week after Lion Tamer."

Bookmakers on both sides of the Tasman don't seem to have paid attention to Lion Tamer's intended path, keeping him as tight as $15 for the Caulfield Cup, while he is much longer, at $41, in the far stronger Cox Plate.

Lion Tamer is rated a $15 chance in the Melbourne Cup, with Harris Tweed at $31.