Murray Baker has forged a reputation for being an astute traveller of horses across the Tasman, but the past fortnight is probably one he would rather forget after a stable accident cost him the chance of a group 1 double at Randwick this Saturday.
The canny New Zealander has been forced to halt the preparation of Karaka Million placegetter Dal Cielo, which was en route to the $1 million Sires' Produce Stakes, after a mishap at Warwick Farm last week.
"He got injured on the walker," Baker said. "He's a pretty smart horse and the owners wanted to have a crack here because they've got an investment in the sire Per Incanto.
"[Per Incanto] is going great and he's a Street Cry horse that has really emerged in New Zealand standing down at Little Avondale. [Dal Cielo] got a cut above the eye. You could almost start working him again, but we've decided to pull the pin."
The same cannot be said for Baker's New Zealand Derby hero Mongolian Khan, which will forge on to the Australian Derby after an unflattering run in the Rosehill Guineas a fortnight ago.
Baker was expected to be front and centre for the Kiwi assault on the $2 million staying test at Randwick, not least of all for his previous success in the race courtesy of Nom Du Jeu (2008) and triple crown winner It's A Dundeel (2013).
But he has almost been relegated to a bit-part role in the build-up when it comes to his compatriots.
Donna Logan's Rosehill Guineas winner Volkstok'n'barrell, which was outstayed by Mongolian Khan in the New Zealand Derby, is challenging for favouritism with Chris Waller's Karaka graduate Preferment, which is seeking to become the first horse since Mahogany (1994) to complete the Victoria-Australian Derby double.
Then there is another Sydney-based New Zealander in John Sargent, who will saddle up Tulloch Stakes runner-up Omeros in search of an Australian Derby surprise.
Yet Baker remains optimistic about Mongolian Khan turning the tables on his Rosehill Guineas conquerors, if not exuding the same confidence he had before It's A Dundeel's Australian Derby romp two years ago.
"[It's A Dundeel] was a real natural horse to do anything with and had a great sprint on him," Baker said.
"But we liked Mongolian Khan from the start and he won first-up at 42-1 against quite a good maiden field over 1400 [metres]. Then he ran in the [Hawke's Bay] Guineas and our other horse [Turn Me Loose] won the race, but this bloke just got back in the rear and stayed in the rear. That was his only bad run until he came to Rosehill recently.
"He might have been a bit fresh the other day in the disappointing run and he should get 2400 [metres]. He looks to have improved a lot the last couple of weeks with the run. The track is not going to get real heavy and he won't mind that."
