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Baccarat Baby on trial for Melbourne

2 October 2019

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By Glenn Davis

After completing her mission to claim Black-Type in the winter, Baccarat Baby begins a new campaign at Eagle Farm on Saturday which could see her join stablemate Alligator Blood in Melbourne this spring.

Baccarat Baby will have her first start since winning the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) in June in the Gallopers Sports Club Open Handicap (1200m).

“This is her big test,” Vandyke said.

“If she runs well, as I hope she will, she’ll go to Melbourne and join Alligator Blood.

“She went well when she ran second in a trial at the Sunshine Coast last month and she looks to have come up this preparation.

“Her big disadvantage on Saturday is she’s up against the boys and 1200 metres isn’t really her go.

“She doesn’t have to win but she’ll need to run well to warrant taking away but I think she’s up to it.”

Vandyke has earmarked the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on October 19 and the $1 million Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 2 as her main Melbourne mission.

Baccarat Baby has started 15 times for seven wins and four placings and won her first Stakes race in the Listed Princess Stakes at the Sunshine Coast in April.

She won her first five starts which earned her a trip to Sydney last spring where she finished a close fifth in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick.

Meanwhile Vandyke has revealed connections of unbeaten Alligator Blood knocked back a seven figure offer to buy the gelding before his brilliant win in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last Sunday.

“His owner received quite a few offers from Hong Kong to sell him before he won the Guineas Prelude but he’s committed not to sell him,” Vandyke said.

Vandyke is optimistic Alligator Blood can go on to win the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday week.

The last Queensland-trained horse to win the Caulfield Guineas was Show A Heart in 2000.

“He’s improved since Sunday’s run and he’s eating well and his coat has come on,” he said.

“My intentions at this stage is to spell him after the Caulfield Guineas and aim for the Magic Millions Guineas which is a $2 million race in January.”

Racing Queensland webnews   October 2