Gordonvale dream comes true for Tyson

By Jordan Gerrans

The Baker clan is synonymous with racing in the small North Queensland community of Gordonvale, so it was fitting that a protégé of the family landed his first training triumph at the picturesque track.

Long-time Gordonvale local Benjamin Tyson has been mentored by astute local horseman Ralph Baker for the last decade before recently going out on his own as a trainer.

The 40-year-old has been campaigning Amore Sirena over the past few months, with the mare previously prepared by Ralph’s son Brett at Toowoomba.

The Gordonvale club only races twice a season, so Tyson had to thread the needle to win his first race on his home deck. 

And, he was able to do that precisely on Saturday, as Amore Sirena scored comfortably by more than three lengths in a dominant display.

“It's a brilliant town. I moved here specifically because of how nice Gordonvale was,” Tyson said.

“We couldn't have planned it better to get the first one there. It worked out perfectly.

“I've lived here for 20 years.”

Baker, who is 80, is a respected horseman who has been around the industry for decades.

When the horse-loving Tyson heard the local trainer needed a hand around his stables about a decade ago, he was quickly down there to offer his services and the rest is history.

“I think that's a good focal point, really, because I wouldn't have become a trainer without Ralph Baker,” Tyson said.

“He's taught me pretty much everything I know about training and thoroughbreds.

 “I knew a little bit about horses before working for him, but I started working at his stable and his wife taught me how she likes her boxes done and it started there.

“I just kind of fell in love with the industry and racehorses, he's taught me absolutely everything I know about it.

“I was very much taking on board what he said and how he approaches racing. He doesn't like to mince his words.

“He loves to be pretty precise with what he says. 

“Ralph’s wife used to do the boxes for him and he needed a hand. So, I thought, well, I'm interested in horses, I like horses, so I'll go down and help him out. Every morning and night since then, I've been at the stables.

“Especially two-year-olds back in the day, probably looking 15 years ago, he was a very good trainer."

Baker has taken a step back from training in recent times and hasn’t had a runner since November of last year.

Baker’s last winner was Gazza's Diamond at Atherton in October of 2025, a galloper in which Tyson owned shares. 

Tyson initially owned shares in a few Baker-prepared gallopers before going out on his own as a trainer.

He also raced Diamatti and Rockatulltay with Baker.

FNQ businessman and long-time racing identity Peter Piccone has shares in Amore Sirena and has raced many horses with the Baker family over the years. 

“I got into horse racing because I love the horses,” Tyson said.

“I've never really been in the public eye or anything like that, I'm pretty low key.

 “Amore Sirena came up in good condition from Brett and the owners, I think, are pretty longstanding."

Despite Baker stepping back from training, he still keeps an eye on the caper with his protégé training out of the stables at his property at Gordonvale.

“He's still very much involved and still mentoring me through my early horses,” Tyson said.

“With Amore Sirena, we will just take it as it comes, see how she feels and go from there.

 “She is my only horse in work. 

"She's one of the loveliest mares we've had, from what I can remember.

“I've probably seen 40 or more horses through Ralph's stable and she's brilliant to handle.”

The five-year-old mare won at her fourth start for Tyson, who owns a majority share in the galloper, with top local rider Lacey Morrison in the saddle.

The win on Saturday was the second of her career in a Benchmark 55 Handicap over 1100 metres.