A Group 1 win in the $1.5 million Epsom Handicap with Pericles would further cement a new trainer-owner relationship between Bjorn Baker and Godolphin.
Bjorn Baker was an outsider looking in, but as a trainer with a neighbouring stable, he knew enough to understand why Godolphin remains an influential operation in world racing.
Yet never once since establishing himself in Sydney 14 years ago, did Baker consider he might one day train racehorses for one of the world’s biggest racing operations.
Sheikh Mohammed had always kept a greater portion of his Australian string behind the one stable door as Darley transposed into Godolphin, one of the most recognisable global thoroughbred brands.
But James Cummings’ resignation announcement towards the end of the 2024/25 season sparked a departure from the Godolphin private training template that had served the outfit well.
From Peter Snowden to John O’Shea, briefly Darren Beadman. and finally Cummings, the important winners never stopped flowing, but change was coming.
Baker says he is fortunate to have an opportunity as one of the trainers to benefit from Godolphin’s move to go public in Australia.
The ex-pat Kiwi is now on the inside, and he has made an instant impact, providing Godolphin with a black-type winner in the shape of Pericles, a dependable horse who has fronted up for his fourth season of racing in a mood to add substantially to a bankroll that is already heading towards $6 million.
Pericles won the Tramway Stakes at his first start for Baker, raising hopes he can go to another level again in the Epsom Handicap, long established as one of the signature mile handicaps in Australian racing.
“I'm very lucky. I've picked up a ready-made horse that's been extremely well looked after, so he's been very straightforward in the gallops at home,” Baker told The Straight.
“I must say it's a great honour to train for Godolphin. Obviously they've bred a lot of good horses for a long time, and I've seen a lot of them at Warwick Farm as well.
“When Godolphin was changing their model, I definitely expressed interest in training for Godolphin and had an interview.
“Pericles was definitely one of their best-performed horses, and I am the lucky beneficiary of a very good horse.”
The son of Street Boss is seeking to become the third Group 1 winner from his remarkable dam, Accessories, who already counts Epaulette and Helmet among her elite winning progeny. She is also the dam of stakes winners Pearls and Bullbars, who is the sire of champion miler Mr Brightside.
While it is a new arrangement for the trainer, it is a familiar formula.
Hand-me-downs have played a significant role as a source of winners for Baker during his climb through the Sydney trainers’ ranks.
Godolphin dispersal sales have borne fruit with Alegron, a Brisbane Cup winner for the new stable, and Sandpaper among the acquisitions to have responded to the Baker way.
Caballus, a Coolmore cast-off out of the Chris Waller stable, is another to appreciate a change of scenery.
Baker says there is nothing complicated about his approach with stable newcomers.
“I will have a quick look at their form and gear and so forth just to get a rough idea about what I’m going into,” he said.
“Then I try to bring them through my system and eventually you have some idea without going in too deep. We don’t try to change things too much.”
Godolphin will be bidding for its third Epsom win with as many trainers since Hauraki won for O’Shea in 2016 and Hartnell delivered under Cummings’s stewardship in 2018.
Baker will be searching for his first, but his Group 1 resume includes this year’s Doncaster Mile with Stefi Magnetica.
He will have a representation at Randwick on Saturday befitting his status as a trainer who finished second to the incomparable Chris Waller in last season’s Sydney premiership.
Within The Law contests the Group 1 Flight Stakes and stable warrior Arapaho will peak for the Group 1 Metropolitan on a potential path to another Melbourne Cup start.
“All of these races, none of them are easy to win but we’re there, so at the end of the day you try and focus on having your own horse right as much as anything,” Baker said.
