Picture: Steve Hart
Bjorn Baker is assured Father’s Day is again on observe following a latest setback.
Father’s Day remains to be a month away, however connections of the horse by the identical title are hoping to be celebrating a bit earlier this 12 months.
The seven-year-old hasn’t raced since he was eased out of the Stayer’s Cup (2400m) at Rosehill in June after visibly shortening stride approaching the 1000m.
He was the race favorite and coach Bjorn Baker mentioned a subsequent veterinary examination of the gelding discovered a muscle difficulty was accountable.
“We predict he might have pulled a muscle behind when he got here out of the gates, so he undoubtedly had excuses that day,” Baker mentioned.
Previous to that, Father’s Day had strung collectively two aggressive performances, ending runner-up to Golden Path over 2000m at Randwick in Might and filling the identical place behind Kadavar over 2400m on the Kensington observe in June.
He has been given virtually six weeks to beat his muscle pressure and following a stable barrier trial hit-out final week and a satisfying trackwork gallop on Tuesday, Baker expects Father’s Day to rebound in Saturday’s Congratulations James McDonald Handicap (2000m).
If he does run effectively, he might lengthen his marketing campaign into the early a part of the carnival.
“His type previous to his final run was superb and his work on Tuesday urged he is perhaps able to run a great race,” Baker mentioned.
“He’s in good order so we are going to see what occurs. It’s one step at a time.”
Father’s Day will likely be ridden by Rachel King and is on the second line of betting at $5 with the Ciaron Maher-trained Unanimous, a final begin placegetter over 1800m at Randwick, a $2.90 favorite to offer premier Sydney jockey James Mcdonald a win within the race honouring his 2023-24 title victory.
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