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By Ray Hickson

It might be something of a throw at the stumps but trainer Bjorn Baker has warned not to underestimate talented mare Belluci Babe in Saturday’s Group 2 $200,000 XXXX Expressway Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Trainer Bjorn Baker (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The mare doesn’t have the profile of the likes of glamour colt Anamoe but Baker said there’s nothing random about her presence in the weight-for-age sprint which he sees as a prime opportunity to raise her black type profile.

“I had it in mind even from the back end of the spring, it was a race if she came up well we could look at,’’ Baker said.

“If we’re going to have a shot at a Group 2 now’s the time, you’ve got to be in to win.

“If you look through the race you can mount some case for her. I’m happy we’re there, she deserves her chance.”

The five-year-old has won five of her 14 starts and resumed with a close second behind Mr Mosaic over the Rosehill 1100m two weeks ago.

Naturally an Expressway Stakes is a decent class hike on a mid-January Benchmark race but Baker feels the fact she’s an on-pace mare with a run under her belt could be to her advantage.

“Obviously a Group 2 is a tough race but she’s had that run under her belt,’’ he said.

“She’ll roll forward and I think Rosehill suits, I’ve always had a really good opinion of her. She was Group placed last time in (third in the Group 3 Nivison) and her first-up run was very good.

“She’s a stakes class mare and even running top four would be outstanding from her pedigree point of view.”

Stablemate Overpass wasn’t far off the best sprinting three-year-olds in the spring and Baker said after trialling well on Monday he wouldn’t be out of place.

Initially the colt was heading to Saturday week’s Eskimo Prince Stakes for three-year-olds but that race might not be any easier.

“He did a good job in the spring, he was unlucky in the Coolmore and on that run alone he deserves to be half a chance,’’ he said.

“He’s a really promising horse, he’s shown he’s definitely up to stakes grade. If he could feature in it that would really open some doors for other races.”

Belluci Babe was $13 with TAB on Thursday with Overpass a $12 chance.

Baker will raise the bar further with in-form four-year-old Rule Of Law if he can extend his unbeaten run for the stable to four in the Rosehill Bowling Club Handicap (1200m).

Belluci Babe runs second at Rosehill on January 15

The gelding has won successive Benchmark 72 races at Warwick Farm and Rosehill and is skipping a grade by taking on a Benchmark 88 on Saturday.

“You always hope they measure up and if he takes the next step we would be looking at stakes races,’’ Baker said.

“He’s the exciting horse. Gate one, James McDonald, I’m really looking forward to him going for four in a row.

“His work has been good and I think he’s even improved in how he looks.”

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