Bobby Dee (black hood) gets his first Australian win on the board at Rosehill. Photo: AAP
Bjorn Baker was a relieved man after former New Zealander Bobby Dee (NZ) (Zed) broke a frustrating run of near-misses for the stable to land a surprise win at Rosehill.
The trainer had experienced a rough week with stakes-placed filly Let It Pour (Redoute’s Choice) beaten at Gosford midweek as a $1.10 favourite and both Hinchbeast (Hinchinbrook) and Fun Fact (The Factor) going down narrowly in earlier races on Saturday’s Rosehill program.
“I needed it to get out of an almightily bad week,” Baker said.
“It’s a nice change of luck.
I’ve had a few short-priced favourites and they’ve all been running well but things just haven’t been going our way.”
Sent out at $31, the Jomara Bloodstock-bred Bobby Dee was expected to need further than the 1500 metres of the Bisley Workwear Handicap but with a positive ride from in-form apprentice Samantha Clenton he proved too tough for his rivals.
Formerly with Baker’s father Murray and training partner Andrew Forsman, Bobby Dee was switched to Baker’s Warwick Farm base to chase the better prize money in Sydney.
That decision reaped immediate rewards on Saturday and Baker anticipated more to come.
“He is a promising horse,” Baker said.
“Andrew and Murray had him in New Zealand and I’m lucky enough to get a ready-made horse.
I wasn’t confident today, I thought he would be better over a trip but he was very game with the big weight.”
Bobby Dee continued a good run for Clenton who has now ridden eight winners this month, highlighted by a four-winner haul at Tamworth on December 3.
She agrees Bobby Dee will improve as he is stepped up in distance and says his class got him over the line.
“He will definitely get better with a bit more ground under his legs but full credit to him today, we had to work hard to cross then we got a nice cheap sectional, quickened nice and he was just too good late,” Clenton said.