The lure of a Group One race in his adopted hometown has been enough to convince Bjorn Baker to back-up Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man) in the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Reliable Man filly arrived back in Sydney earlier this week after landing a brilliant victory at Caulfield on Saturday, coming from last on the corner and pulling away from her rivals late to capture the Gr.3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m).
The victory rocketed her into Gr.1 VRC Oaks (2500m) favouritism and while the fillies’ classic is on Baker’s radar, he said the opportunity to take on the males for a A$2 million purse and a valuable Group One win is arguably even more enticing.
“It was either this or the Wakeful (Gr.2, 2000m), but it’s a big race on our back doorstep,” Baker said.
“In a roundabout way, the Spring Champion is bigger than the Oaks, so we will look at this Saturday first before making any decisions.
“But she has travelled back great, she looks to have worked fantastic and I couldn’t be happier.”
The Spring Champion represents a more significant challenge for Renaissance Woman, who was midfield in the Gr.2 Tea Rose (1400m) and Gr.1 Flight Stakes (1600m) before her Victorian raid, but Baker feels she is only coming into her own now she is being extended to longer trips.
“That’s the key for her, out in distance,” Baker said.
“It’s a big race and you can never be too confident, but she is in good form and she stays, that’s a big tick.”
Renaissance Woman has barrier nine in the field of 12 with Rachel King to ride.
Renaissance Woman was offered by Westbury Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale and was knocked down at Karaka for $250,000 with the ticket signed by Brian Nutt’s Attunga Stud and she is raced by his brother-in-law Geoff Walsh.
The filly is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Mrs Kennedy, who is a half-sister to the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner Mrs Onassis and the Gr.3 How Now Stakes (1200m) winner Miss Judgment, dam of multiple Group One placegetter Missrock.
