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By Ray Hickson

The Central West has been Bjorn Baker’s secret weapon when it comes to turning an inexperienced horse into a topliner. It works for some, at least.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).

His Doncaster winner Stefi Magnetica won her first race at Wellington. Star sprinter Overpass won a maiden at Orange.

The first win by Perfumist, one of Baker’s two runners in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick, was at Bathurst and her second win at Mudgee.

The four-year-old hasn’t had the chance to reach the top echelon just yet but Baker is rapt that she’s made it to her biggest test to date in close to career best form.

“I’m very happy with how she’s going but I’m under no illusion it’s not going to be easy,’’ he said.

“She’s going to have to produce a peak performance to be any chance.”

What Baker says Perfumist, $16 with TAB on Thursday, has going for her is she’s right at her peak when it comes to fitness.

The mare was an all the way winner in fast time over the Randwick mile on Epsom day, running 0.13 faster than Autumn Glow in the feature, then went out quickly again and was run down by Idle Flyer in the Group 3 Angst on Everest Day.

“Once she finds form she tends to hold it,’’ he said.

“She’s well, she’s been to the mile three times and she’s back to 1500m so she has a good fitness base. No doubt it’s a tough race but if fitness counts I’m hopeful she’s right up there amongst the fittest.

“From gate one she has the quickest way home, she has that natural speed so whether she leads or is just off them we’ll figure it out.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the track plays but I’m happy with her going into it.”

Perfumist races for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation as a charity partner while stablemate Mayfair, having his second run for Baker is partnered with Down Syndrome NSW.

Mayfair was formerly in the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable but was purchased by Darby Racing and Baker said his first-up third in the Silver Eagle (1300m) was a promising start.

A year ago he was placed in the Group 1 Golden Rose and was narrowly beaten by Lady Shenandoah in the Ming Dynasty.

“The blinkers go on, we’re chasing a bit to get him there but he ran well first-up no doubt about it,’’ Baker said.

“He is a horse with ability, in terms of the gate and where we get to is a huge question mark. But he deserves a crack at it.”

Brothers Istolea Merc and Iowna Merc compete in consecutive races at Randwick and Baker has had a mini-coup by securing James McDonald to ride the former in the Bisley Workwear Sprint (1100m).

The five-year-old was an easy winner at Warwick Farm when resuming earlier in October and Baker is hopeful he can take the next step up in grade in his stride.

“He was really good first-up and he’s a horse that continues to improve much like his brother,’’ he said.

“His work on Tuesday was very good, he gets McDonald on, he looks strong and powerful at the moment. When you get JMac on it’s like wining the lottery so you’ve got to roll with it.

“And when you get him on it probably tells you maybe the race doesn’t have quite the depth and obviously Chris Waller doesn’t have a runner.”

Iowna Merc has a tougher task in the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) but Baker was pleased to see him improve second-up when narrowly beaten by Rothfire in the Sydney Stakes.

Perfumist wins at Randwick on October 4

Five of the gelding’s eight wins have come at Randwick but the trainer’s main concern is the barrier draw.

“It’s another step up but up in trip is probably good for him,’’ he said.

“I never would have thought he’d get to the level he has. He’s been a marvellous horse and keeps improving. He’s got to overcome the gate but if the track’s playing down the outside he wouldn’t be out of it.”

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