Baker returns to winning formula

[Wandering Eyes]

Little Avondale Stud’s yearling drafts have yielded plenty of success for Bjorn Baker, and the expat New Zealand trainer returned to the same formula with his purchase of another Savabeel colt at Karaka on Tuesday.

Baker has trained several winners with the distinctive ‘LA’ brand, including Addictive Nature, who was bought for $775,000 from the Karaka sale ring in 2016. That son of Savabeel won the Gr.3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) and placed in the Gr.2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and Gr.2 Expressway Stakes (1200m).

On Tuesday, Baker went to $525,000 to secure Lot 562 from Little Avondale’s 2024 draft. The colt is out of the twice-winning High Chaparral mare Alam Mo Na, who is a half-sister to the stakes performer Explosive Mischief. Their dam, the Danehill mare Queen Of The Hill, was a dual Group Three winner in Melbourne.

“Thrilled to get him,” Baker said. “Obviously I’ve had a bit of luck with the Little Avondale graduates over the years.

“We really liked this colt. He was the colt that we came here and wanted. We had to wait a bit longer – I like to strike on the first day – but he’s a lovely-looking colt and he looks like he’s a chance to get up and go early.”

Baker’s purchase of Lot 562 took Savabeel’s aggregate for the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale through the $10 million barrier. The Waikato Stud kingpin has an average price of more than $270,000.

“Savabeel’s one of the great stallions and he’s had a strong sale again,” Baker said. “They’re great horses and they win races. The more Savabeels I get, the more I’ll be able to stay competitive in Sydney, and that’s what it’s about.

“I was lucky enough to get a good Savabeel off Little Avondale a few years back, called Addictive Nature, and this guy reminded me a lot of him. He’s a good-looking horse, plenty of quality, and I can’t wait to get him into the stable.”

The recent innovations and prize-money increases in New Zealand racing have not escaped the notice of Baker, who will consider bringing his new purchase back to this side of the Tasman.

“We’ll try and get him underway relatively quickly, and we’ll definitely sign up for the Karaka Millions,” he said. “If not that, maybe we can get him back here for The Kiwi (1500m) when it’s a $4.5 million race.

“There’s a lot of good opportunities here in New Zealand now. I’m just hoping one or two of the good Kiwi trainers in Aussie move home!”

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