This weekend Kiwi expat Bjorn Baker will saddle-up his Golden Slipper 2013 hopeful Tropical Force who will resume racing in the $125,000 Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) at their home track at Warwick Farm.
Assail (pictured) is the main rival for Tropical Force in Saturday's Sweet Embrace Stakes 2013. Photo: Steve Hart.
Now well established in Sydney and thriving, Baker is targeting the young Stratum filly for a shot at the $3.5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m), the world’s richest two-year-olds’ race to run at Rosehill Gardens on April 6.
Tropical Force ran a close second to Madame Fly on debut over 1000m at Warwick Farm back in early December and returns to the track taking on a field of fellow two-year-old fillies this Saturday for the traditional Slipper lead-up, the Sweet Embrace Stakes 2013.
It will be a very telling first-up run too with Tropical Fore to face one of the shortest-priced contenders in the futures Golden Slipper odds with the Clarry Conners-trained Assail.
Winner of the Wyong Magic Millions Classic before a hoof infection ruled her out of the summer, Assail occupies the third line of Golden Slipper betting at a quote of $15 and is the $2.60 favourite to win the Sweet Embrace on Saturday.
Baker’s filly meanwhile is paying $15 in the Sweet Embrace Stakes odds, Tropical Force drawn nicely in barrier four with Brenton Avdulla to ride, and is a long shot roughie at $201 for the Golden Slipper 2013.
While yet to be convinced she is the same class as Assail, Baker is looking for a nice run from her with Tropical Force to wear blinkers on Saturday after a trial against the shorter-priced filly last week.
“She’s a nice filly and the owner put her in the Slipper,” Baker said.
“We have put the blinkers on her for Saturday. She had a nice trial behind Assail last week and she will run well.”
Think Tropical Force could be the value bet of the Randwick Guineas Day meeting? Or like her triple figure price for the a sneaky Slipper bet?
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