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By Ray Hickson

A wide barrier for his talented filly Within The Law hasn’t scared off trainer Bjorn Baker who says she remains a winning chance in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Furious Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Steve Hart)

The Champagne Stakes runner-up drew 16 in the capacity field for the second leg of the Princess Series but Baker said the race remains an important step toward his Group 1 goal for the spring.

Within The Law, $4.60 with TAB on Thursday, is no stranger to having to overcome such adversity, she won the Sweet Embrace in the autumn from gate 11 of 12 and was narrowly beaten in the Inglis Millennium from wide out.

Baker concedes it is a challenge for her.

“It’s not all about Saturday even through I think she will run well, it’s about getting to 1400m and a mile and it’s a great stepping stone,’’ Baker said.

“It’s a big field, there’ll be plenty of speed on and we can put her in her comfort zone, she can definitely hit the line.

“She has a very good turn of foot, she’s a quality filly. It is tricky but she is so genuine I know she is going to give 100 per cent, you could never write her off.”

The Furious will be a return clash between Within The Law and Silver Shadow winner Savvy Hallie after the latter held a three-quarter length margin on the line.

It was his filly’s late strength, which saw her run the fastest last 200m of the race, that pleased Baker the most.

“I was thrilled with her, she went into that probably a touch underdone so she’s right where we want her second-up and then into the Tea Rose and hopefully Flight Stakes,’’ he said.

“She’s had a run, she’ll be very strong late. Even with the wide gate I wouldn’t rule her out.”

The stable debut of high class Godolphin gelding Pericles in the Group 2 $300,000 Drinkwise Tramway Stakes (1400m) excites Baker and he can’t see the $5.4m earner letting him down.

He’d expect Pericles to be able to slot over from a slightly tricky draw with some of the race speed drawn out with him.

“He’s a very good horse, he’s had a gallop between races and a couple of trials so he’s up to the mark,’’ he said.

“He’s very laid back and he’s come here in great order. You don’t often have horses of his ability come into the stable and I can’t wait to get him going.

“He has an awkward gate but he’s a high class horse and 1400m probably suits him pretty well. I think he will go on to better things.”

Stablemate War Eternal won’t get his preferred heavy conditions in the Tramway but Baker was more than satisfied with his midfield finish in the Group 1 Winx Stakes.

“He’s very genuine and he’s bringing fitness into a race where a lot of horses are fresh up,’’ he said.

“You’d love the track to be a little bit demanding but that’s not to say he can’t go on top of the ground. He always puts in 100 percent and we can’t fault him.”

A first-up placing in the Winx Stakes encouraged Baker about how Sydney Cup winner Arapaho has come back this spring and he’s not ruling out another forward showing in the Group 2 $300,000 Asahi Super Dry Chelmsford Stakes (1600m).

Arapaho will be joined by Robusto, who ran seventh in the Winx, the weight-for-age mile.

“Once again he has a good gate so you can’t really knock him in terms of where he’s drawn,’’ he said of Arapaho.

“He’s in great order, his first up run was good. He’s not quite as dynamic second-up so we are mindful of that but he’s going to put himself in the first half.

“Robusto’s biggest win came at the same track and distance. He was good in the Winx Stakes no doubt about it and I think he will appreciate getting back on top of the ground.”

Within The Law runs second at Randwick on August 23

Bjorn Baker on Monte Supreme (race 3): “She’s a lovely strong mare and came to me readymade. I think she will be better suited on top of the ground as well. She’s a mare with a fair bit of ability and a fair bit of upside.”

On Highlights (race 5): “He had excuses last time and since then he’s worked really well. He looks good, he often pops up when least expected so he’s some hope.”

On Spring Lee (race 8): “She’s got the gate we need so from that point of view we might have a throw at the stumps. She’s rock hard fit and she’s got the speed to put herself right there.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting