Kiwi trainer seeks Melbourne Cup success father missed

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 2 Nov, 17:08 · Archive

New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker will run So You Are in the Melbourne Cup, hoping to succeed where his father Murray came close in 1990.

Bjorn Baker, a New Zealand trainer based in Sydney, will saddle Bendigo Cup winner So You Are in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday. Baker is bidding to succeed where his father Murray fell short: Murray's horse The Phantom ran second to Kingston Rule in 1990, which still holds the 3200m handicap's race record time of three minutes, 16.30 seconds.

Baker describes So You Are as far from the most gifted horse in the field. The five-year-old son of So You Think secured its place in the $10.2 million staying test after winning at Bendigo only last Wednesday. Rachel King will be the jockey.

Baker said his father "couldn't quite do it" and that winning the Cup "would be pretty special for him". The two talk most days, and Baker notes that Murray will likely offer advice. Baker joked that he is representing Australasia in the race and that his friends call him 'Back-Up Baker' because So You Are ran again so quickly after Bendigo.

How it is being reported

• Kiwi trainer out to make up for father's Cup heartbreakBjorn Baker is determined to go one better than his father in the Melbourne Cup when he saddles Bendigo Cup winner So You Are at Flemington.Perth Now · 2 Nov, 16:34
• Kiwi trainer out to make up for father's Cup heartbreakBjorn Baker is determined to go one better than his father in the Melbourne Cup when he saddles Bendigo Cup winner So You Are at Flemington.The West Australian · 2 Nov, 16:34

In this story: Bjorn Baker · Murray Baker · So You Are · Rachel King · Melbourne Cup · Flemington · Bendigo

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