Baker already looking ahead to next year's Cup

Cambridge trainer Bjorn Baker reckons Harris Tweed has timed his run to perfection - for next year's Melbourne Cup.

The AJC Derby runner-up produced a stellar run for fifth in yesterday's A$5.65 million (NZ$7.2 million) Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.

Though it wasn't a win, Harris Tweed still earned A$150,000 for Tauranga owner-breeder Phil Bayly and confirmed his staying potential.

Next year's Melbourne Cup is rumoured to be worth A$10 million to celebrate its 150th running and Baker, who trains the Montjeu four-year-old in partnership with his father Murray, already has a ring in his diary around November 2, 2010.

''We're thrilled with the run. It was a massive run,'' Baker said last night.

''Just the way the race panned out, it just didn't work in his favour. He drew an outside barrier and he had to work a bit early and from the 900m mark he was poked out wide, five wide.

''But he kept coming. It was a really gutsy effort and Craig Newitt [jockey] said if he had drawn in closer, he would have been right in it.

''He's only going to get better because he's still a very raw horse. Come next year, he should be a lot stronger, and if it's worth $10 million, then we've got to have a really close look.''

Baker said Harris Tweed would return to Cambridge on Sunday to spell ahead of an autumn campaign, perhaps targeting the Auckland and Sydney Cups to ensure him of a place in next year's Melbourne Cup.

''Up until today, it's been a pretty mediocre campaign but he's come right at the right time,'' Baker said.

The stable had domestic success at Ellerslie yesterday with another talented stayer Bakup winning the last race to complete a bag of four winners for jockey James McDonald.

Harris Tweed led home the five New Zealand runners in the Cup with Daffodil finishing a luckless 11th,  ahead of Gallions Reach in 13th, Capecover in 17th and Spin Around 20th.

After racing back in the field, Daffodil copped a severe check as she began to improve on straightening, interference which co-owner Mark Chittick last night said signalled the death knell for her chances.
''Leica Ding came in underneath her and she literally had her nose on the ground,'' Chittick said.

''Chris [Munce] reckoned she was lucky to stay on her feet. He had to pick her up and get her going again and that was basically her race run. It was a huge thrill to be here and we'll give it another go next year.''

Leica Ding's rider Craig Williams was suspended for 14 meetings from the incident.

Daffodil, who would have earned connections A$115,000 had she finished 10th instead of 11th, will now return to Waikato Stud to spell ahead of a likely autumn campaign.

Matamata rider Noel Harris said Capecover went a sound race but was unsuited by the slow speed and sprint home.

He said Capecover had his momentum stopped in the straight, the latest of a string of bad luck the horse has struck in Australia.

 ''We did not have a lot of room at the top of the straight but he just whacked away when we got out. I wasn't disappointed with the way he went,'' Harris said.

Jockey Mark Du Plessis gave Auckland Cup winner Spin Around an economical trip on the fence but he was never a winning chance.

''There just wasn't much there when I went for him,'' Du Plessis said.
Meanwhile, New Zealand trainer John Wheeler has no regrets that his smart stayer Court Ruler spent the spring in a paddock rather than preparing for yesterday's Cup.

Wheeler sent Court Ruler for a spell after he won the Gr I Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June, defeating yesterday's Melbourne Cup winner Shocking by a long neck.

''Shocking was the horse to beat in the Derby and he ran up and went past us but my horse kicked back and won because he was the better stayer,'' Wheeler said.

''But it's hard work getting horses ready [the Melbourne Cup] from the Brisbane carnival. He needed a break and I've got no regrets. My horse has got his whole career in front of him.''

Wheeler said Court Ruler was about a month to six weeks away from racing, with feature races over the Sydney autumn carnival his main targets.

The New Plymouth trainer said he thought Shocking would be one of the main chances in yesterday's Cup and backed him in trifectas.
However, the trifecta still eluded him.

- © Fairfax NZ News