Skip to main navigation Skip to main content

Baccarat Baby on path to Stradbroke

24 April 2020

Share this page

Share on a platform

Or copy the page link

By Glenn Davis

Talented mare Baccarat Baby will be out to maintain her unbeaten home track record at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, ahead of a Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap mission in the winter.

Baccarat Baby, a Michael Hellyer mount, will have her second start this campaign in the Open Handicap (1400m), where she has drawn ideally in barrier three.

The four-year-old made her comeback finishing a creditable second under 60kgs behind Mishani Hustler over 1200 metres at Doomben two weeks ago.

It was her first appearance since finishing fifth to Kiwi star Melody Belle in the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington on November 2, and a gallant sixth in the Group 2 Tristarc at Caulfield in October.

Trainer David Vandyke had planned to target the Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara at Eagle Farm in the original Brisbane winter carnival program but is now focusing on the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.

“Her grand final was to be the Tatt’s Tiara but her main aim now is the Stradbroke,” Vandyke said.

Vandyke was pleased with Baccarat Baby’s first-up second and believes the four-year-old has taken great benefit from the run.

“Her first run back was very good as she had a big weight with 60kgs,” Vandyke said.

“She’s come on since that run and I’m expecting improvement from her.

“She’s down slightly in weight and I’m expecting her to be very hard to beat to keep her unbeaten record in tact on her home track.

“She also goes quite good second up.”

Baccarat Baby has won all four starts at the Sunshine Coast including the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in June last year.

Vandyke believes the Tony Gollan-trained Silvera, from barrier one, looms as the biggest threat.

Silvera was an impressive last start winner in the Listed Member’s Cup (1600m) at Doomben on February 29 but has since had the benefit of a barrier at Doomben when he ran second to stablemate Just Orm.

Silvera won the Rockhampton Cup and Listed Tattersall’s Mile last winter.

The six-year-old was formerly trained by Tony McEvoy but since transferring to Gollan has been a good money spinner, winning three of his 10 starts with prizemoney earnings of almost $548,000.

Racing Queensland webnews - April 24