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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Bjorn Baker will have no qualms about asking jockey Rachel King to make use of Shades Of Rose’s pace if that’s what’s needed to offset a wide barrier in her first stakes test at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The exciting four-year-old has burst through the grades in the second half of winter and Baker said the mare’s speed is a great asset to have and one he’s now not afraid to call upon in the Group 2 $250,000 Irresistible Pools Sheraco Stakes (1200m).

The Warwick Farm trainer admitted the mare’s bucking incident first-up from a spell played on his mind when she and King last partnered up at Rosehill back on July 16 and it likely contributed to her defeat that day.

“She may need a bit of luck from the gate but we are happy with her. She’s got that tactical speed,’’ Baker said.

“The last time Rachel rode her she drew awkwardly and we were a little gun shy about using her speed as she had bucked first-up so she was always going to be a bit vulnerable that day.”

James McDonald has been on board Shades Of Rose as she’s put a total of 11-1/2 lengths on benchmark rivals in three straight Rosehill wins but with 54kg, and McDonald riding Espiona, on Saturday there was no hesitation from Baker in recalling King.

It’s not like the jockey is unfamiliar either, she’s been on board in most of the mare’s trackwork around her winning streak and gives Baker confidence she’s holding her form.

“It’s another step up but she has done everything well,’’ he said.

“There’s no hiding, she’s jumping from Benchmark 88 to Group 2 fillies and mares level and you’re meeting a lot of very well credentialed fillies and mares.

“But she seems to have trained on really well, her work on Tuesday was good and with the 54kg that gives me a bit of confidence.

“If she gets black type it’s another big tick for her. It’s exciting, she just keeps raising the bar but no doubt she will have to do that again.”

It will officially be the sixth run in the preparation for Shades Of Rose, $3.20 favourite with TAB on Thursday, and Baker is wary of going to the well too many times.

But with a race like the Group 3 $2 million Sydney Stakes (1200m) just a month away another win could make that an enticing carrot.

“You’ve got to be mindful that she has been in for a while. Whatever happens now I think she has shown she’s definitely stakes class,’’ he said.

Espiona is the horse most expect to provide the biggest stumbling block for Shades Of Rose and jockey James McDonald said he's keen to see what the four-year-old can produce first-up.

The mare started the autumn with a boom on her but met with defeat in her first three runs back before a dominant showing in the Group 3 James Carr Stakes (1400m) in April.

She warmed up for the Sheraco with a midfield finish behind Malkovich and Lost And Running in a Rosehill trial on August 19.

"I've got some high hopes for this spring, she's come back in really good order,'' McDonald said.

"I trialled her the other dsay and she gave me a tremendous feel so I'm looking forward to her return, seeing what she can do and seeing what she can press on to.

"She's up against some stiff opposition but I'm sure she will run extremely well."

Shades Of Rose wins at Rosehill on August 27

Meanwhile, Baker is hoping the Rosehill track can stay in reasonable condition to enable Prime Candidate to hold his form in the Group 2 $250,000 Fujitsu General Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

The front-running gelding was cut down in the last couple of strides by Showmanship in a gallant performance in the Show County (1200m) three weeks ago and is likely to employ similar tactics with another light weight.

“I think he’s going well and gate one is good for him,’’ Baker said.

“We will be very positive, he has a fitness edge on a lot of other horses in the race so we will try and make it a truly run race.

“He went super the other day but we are wary if the rain comes it is going to be tougher on him.”

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