Baker hopeful of qualifying for maiden Stampede Final

By Glenn Davis

Roma trainer Wayne Baker has travelled to most parts of the States supporting country racing so it’ll be well deserved if he can claim his first Country Stampede Final at Doomben next month.

Baker has been training for 35 years after starting in the racing industry as a jockey, kicking off as an apprentice with the late Beau Green at Roma before transferring to retired trainer Barry Baldwin who also was based at Roma before becoming an icon training at Eagle Farm.

The 66-year-old conditioner moved from Charleville to Roma in 1972 and had 26 horses in work until recently cutting back to a dozen horses.

“I’ve been around a bit,” Baker said.

Baker is part of the well- known Baker clan in South East Queensland with brother Don “Ducky” Baker training at Toowoomba while sister Carmel trains at Charleville.

Another brother “Bub” Baker passed away last year after a long stint training in North Queensland.

Baker is yet to saddle a starter in the Country Stampede Final and his only Country Cups Challenge Final Runner was Menindee in the 2023 edition won by the Olivia Cairns-trained Fire King.

He has tried several times but has also failed to win the Battle Of The Bush Final held at Eagle Farm each June.

Baker heads to Charleville on Saturday with a two-pronged attack with Born Fearless and A Lot Of Booty in the Country Stampede Qualifier over 1000 metres.

Charleville is a sand track and Baker has no concerns with either stablemate handling the surface.

Baker favours Born Fearless as the pick of his duo following his easy St George win in late September and a last start second to Kat Chinna in a 1000-metre Benchmark race at Cunnamulla on October 10.

“Born Fearless is a tough old bloke who comes at them at 100 mile an hour,” Baker said.

“I got him for $5,000 off Rex Lipp and he’s the better of the two. He’s won four races for me and has now won in open company.

“He carried 64kgs when he just got beaten last start and he doesn’t mind what tracks he runs on.”

A Lot Of Booty also was a $5,000 buy from Sunshine Coast trainer Jack Duncan and is coming off a last start fourth to the William Pugsley-trained Bugden in a 1200-metre Benchmark race at Charleville.

“He also carried a big weight last time and he’s a real show in this race,” Baker said.

“He likes to race on the pace and he only just got run down at Charleville.”