Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It’s not clear yet where the bar is with unbeaten filly O’Invincible but her first-up task at Kensington on Wednesday is a lot lower than trainer Bjorn Baker had initially planned.

Luke Hilton (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The three-year-old was being set for the Scone carnival but Baker’s racing manager Luke Hilton said a minor issue following her first trial in early April meant those plans had to be changed.

After a quick reset she showed her readiness to return in the Broadsiding @ Darley Handicap (1000m) with a trial win two weeks ago.

“We did pencil in a stakes race at Scone for her but she had a setback and we had to cool our jets with her,’’ Hilton said.

“She just needed a bit of time, Bjorn’s been patient with her and she’s back in good order now and trialled well leading into this.

“This is a nice kick off point for her and hopefully she can reach the levels we think she can.”

O’Invincible, $5.50 with TAB on Tuesday, won on debut at Hawkesbury in early December and scored her second win in the stewards room at Wyong just before Christmas.

Hilton said the stable has always had a good opinion of the daughter of Viddora, a two-time Group 1 winner who also contested the 2018 TAB Everest, and is confident she’ll give herself every chance.

“We’ve been really pleased with her, her work on Saturday was great and the trails have been very good,’’ he said.

“She’s got good tactical speed and can put herself on speed, she’s not a very big filly so carrying the weight is probably the biggest challenge for her.”

Stardeel is something of a work in progress for the Baker team and Hilton said if he’s able to win the TAB Handicap (1150m) first-up it’ll be a bonus.

The gelding has only had four starts and pulled up with heat stress following his closing fourth at Warwick Farm in late January. He won his latest trial over 1208m but is kicking off over a shorter trip.

“He’s been a bit tricky with his racing manners at this stage, he’s still working it all out which is why we’re kicking him off over a short distance,’’ he said.

“He’s going to be better when he gets up over a bit more ground.”

Imported gelding Mortlake makes his debut for Baker, alongside stablemate Stallone, in the All Too Hard @ Vinery Stud Handicap (1400m) and he’s had three trials with the latest the most promising of them.

The four-year-old’s only win to date came over a similar trip and while Hilton says he will be more effective later on he is showing promise.

“He’s getting better and better all the time,’’ he said.

“He’s a pretty well performed European galloper who has won a race over there and been in stakes races.

“He’s going to take benefit from the run and he’s going to be better when he gets over further and acclimatised a bit more.”

O'Invincible wins a trial at Warwick Farm on May 26

Stallone resumed with a close up fourth behind Piggyback on a heavy 10 three weeks ago and though only beaten 1.6 lengths a sharp improvement is expected.

“I thought his run at Warwick Farm was great, he’d appreciate a better track, hopefully, and up to the 1400m I think he’s right on the money to run well,’’ Hilton said.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday’s Kensington meeting