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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Bjorn Baker is banking on talented mare Perfumist replicating what she did last preparation and continue to improve with racing as she looks to bounce back at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old let punters down when she resumed on a heavy track two weeks ago, weakening after leading to run sixth behind Cloudland, but a combination of race fitness and a drier surface have Baker positive going into the ClubsNSW Handicap (1200m).

Perfumist was one of Baker’s most improved horses last preparation as she graduated from a Benchmark 58 defeat first-up at Bathurst to winning four races on end and starting in the market in the $3.5m The Kiwi in March.

“I thought she was okay (first-up) and generally she is a mare that improves,’’ Baker said.

“Last preparation in particular she improved immensely through the campaign. She’s a quirky horse, and nothing can quite replicate race fitness like a race itself.”

It wasn’t until third-up at 1400m last time in that Perfumist, $8.50 with TAB on Friday, started her winning streak so Baker knows there’s a bit more up the sleeve.

At the same time races like the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) have been mentioned as an aspiration for her later in the spring so it’s no surprise the trainer is wanting to see her head in the right direction.

“We’re confident she’s a lot better and she’s fitter, the winkers go on and she has a good gate,’’ he said.

“She should be able to put herself right there comfortably enough and if she has made the improvement I think she has she should be very competitive.”

A drying track is very much in stablemate Disneck’s favour but Baker is wary it’s been a stop-start campaign so far as he’s avoided the heavy tracks.

The gelding resumed back in mid-July running typically slick late sectionals to be beaten two lengths by Romeo’s Choice in the July Sprint (1100m).

“It’s been frustrating for the owners but he’s good on his day,’’ he said.

“When he looks good he runs well and he does look very good at the moment. I just wish it was 1100m and I wish the track was going to be firmer.”

There’s a bit expected of stakes winning mare Dance To The Boom this spring and Baker is anticipating a handy return in the Merrylands RSL Handicap (1100m).

Dance To The Boom was being set on a Magic Millions path after she won the Gosford Guineas at Wyong at the end of last year but a setback scuppered that plan.

Returned in the Group 2 Light Fingers in February and endured a wide run so Baker elected to stop and start again and he says it’s been the right move.

“She’s trialled really well, her work on Tuesday was excellent,’’ he said.

“She’s a mare that we’ve got a lot of hope for, she’s a very good looking mare. She has a really good gate and she’s definitely fit enough to run well first-up.

Dance To The Boom runs second in a Randwick trial on August 7

“She’s already won a stakes race and I think she will get back to that grade comfortably.

“There’s no easy races at this time of year so I’m looking forward to getting her underway and whatever she does she will improve on too.”

Baker said he’d consider whether stablemate Shirvington, a first-up Wyong winner two weeks ago, takes his place alongside the mare or waits for an option midweek.

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