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By Ray Hickson

Exciting filly Passeggiata will confirm herself as a stakes class horse of the future in trainer Bjorn Baker’s eyes if she can maintain her unbeaten record at Randwick on Saturday.

So far it’s been a meteoric rise from a Gosford maiden to a Benchmark 72 at Rosehill and it’ll be another challenge again in the Grainshaker Australian Vodka Handicap (1100m) as she makes her debut at headquarters.

Baker, speaking on Sky Sports Radio, said Passeggiata has already taken some major steps in her initial campaign but another win would make things interesting when planning her future.

“This autumn might come a little bit too soon, it’s only her first prep and you couldn’t ask for much more,’’ Baker said.

“She won her maiden race at the provincials dominantly then went straight to Saturday which is probably unusual in itself.

“Already she has taken a giant leap and more often than not when they get to Saturday grade pretty quickly they get to stakes grade.”

Passeggiata, $2.70 with TAB on Thursday, ran her rivals off their feet when she scored at Rosehill two weeks ago.

The Punter’s Intelligence sectional breakdown noted that her first 500m of the 1100m dash on a heavy 8 was put down in 30.51, over three lengths faster than her five rivals, leaving the chasers flat footed and essentially winning her the race.

Passeggiata wins at Rosehill on January 7

Her final 600m of 34.38 was over a second slower than the race’s best.

She’ll have to do it with an extra 4.5kg on Saturday but Baker said her speed is her asset and if she can pass this test he’ll look to tick the 1200m box with her.

“There’s no such thing as an easy race in Sydney, you never take anything for granted,’’ he said.

“She’s in great order, she had a good gallop on Tuesday morning and we’re thrilled with her. She’s exciting, she’s fast, she’ll put herself there.

“It was a good effort last time, she looked like she was gone with 100m to go and kept fighting so I think she will get 1200m in time.”

Baker is producing a slick two-year-old filly in the shape of Rockabilly Rebel in the Petaluma Handicap (1000m).

The youngster, $4.80 with TAB on Thursday, has displayed natural speed in all trials and in her only defeat she engaged in a two horse war with Steel City, going down narrowly with a huge gap to third.

She has drawn the outside but Baker isn’t so concerned about that considering the positioning of the 1000m start at Randwick.

“She’s an exciting filly and I think she is very promising,’’ he said.

“She’s trialled very well in all three trials and the last trial she won very comfortably. She has an awkward gate but it’s not much of a corner from the 1000m.

“She’s a lovely filly, her work on Tuesday was excellent and I know Rachel (King) is very confident.”

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