Racing: Trainers shifting to Australia

Craig Ritchie (right), with father Frank, will transfer his stables to Warwick Farm. Photo / Derek Flynn

Two of Zealand's brightest training talents, Bjorn Baker and Craig Ritchie, are relocating to Sydney's Warwick Farm.

The pair are setting up adjoining barns in the stabling complex recently vacated by Patinak Farm's billionaire owner Nathan Tinkler.

Both cite a long-held ambition to be part of the Australian racing scene.

Bjorn Baker, 33, returned from Ireland and his pharmacy business in 2007 to join his father, well-established trainer Murray Baker in a training partnership at Cambridge.

After spending several years in a training partnership with his father Frank, Craig Ritchie, 39, has been training on his own account near Pukekohe for six years.

"I met my wife Andrea in Sydney when I was working there for four years," said Baker.

"She's actually from Taranaki, but we met over there and since those days it's always been a dream of mine to set up training in Sydney."

The pair chose Warwick Farm because they believe it is as close as possible to replicating New Zealand conditions.

"Where we are is 20m from the equine swimming pool and all the facilities," said Baker. "It's a user- friendly situation and an ideal place to train horses."

Australia's leading trainer Peter Snowden, Clarry Connors and Joe Pride have their stables almost alongside.

"It's a country environment in a city," said Ritchie. "New Zealand horses will have no problems acclimatising."

Ritchie is taking with him two of his best horses, Solid Billing and Celtic Fantasy.

Solid Billing is no stranger to Australian racing, having won the Summer Cup at Rosehill on Boxing Day 2009 and the A$150,000 Queen's Cup at Eagle Farm in July last year before finishing a game front-running third in the recent Sydney Cup.

Solid Billing remained in Australia and will reunite with his trainer when he arrives in the first week in July.

"I've got a couple of unraced 2-year-old fillies that I think a fair bit of to take as well."

Baker said he has yet to decide which horses he will take with him.

"Initially, I'll be training just a small team."

Former New Zealand horseman Chris Waller, who has set Sydney alight in the past season or so, encouraged Baker and Ritchie to make the move.

"Chris has been very helpful," says Ritchie.

Murray and Bjorn Baker began training together in the 2008-09 season and ended with 73 wins and $3.7 million in stakes. The Heckler was champion New Zealand 2-year-old and Nom du Jeu champion stayer.

Bjorn Baker will always be instantly recognisable in Australia as the trainer who leapt in the air continually in driving rain as Lion Tamer burst clear of the opposition in the A$1.5 million Victoria Derby at Flemington at the last Melbourne Cup Carnival.

"I've learned a lot from working with Dad, which will be a big asset to me in this new venture."

Both go with the blessings of their fathers.

"Bjorn has always been keen to try his luck in Australia and good on him," said Murray Baker.

"The timing is right for Craig to have a shot in Sydney," said Frank Ritchie. "He knows the Sydney scene well."

Smoken Up's battle to retain his Interdominion title has become more difficult.

The B sample of a swab taken from the Australian pacer after winning the Grand Final at Alexandra Park last month returned positive to the drug DMSO yesterday.

That ensures the Racing Integrity Unit will charge trainer Lance Justice and he will have to prove contamination to have any chance of Smoken Up retaining the title.