Australian Mission For Mr Tipsy
- Sunday, 16 January 2011 04:15
New Zealand trainer Murray Baker is planning another raid on Australian riches with Mr Tipsy set to be aimed at the Tasmanian summer carnival.
Baker, who trains in partnership with his son Bjorn, has enjoyed some of his greatest successes over the past few years in Australia most recently with Lion Tamer in the Victoria Derby.
Placed in the 2009 Sydney Cup, Mr Tipsy reacquainted himself with the winner's stall in Sunday's Marton Cup, his third run back from a lengthy injury lay-off.
Baker said the lure of the Australian dollar, the ease of travel and tackling the second tier of stayers in the $A300,000 Hobart Cup (2200m) on February 13 and the $A225,000 Launceston Cup (2400m) 10 days later was attractive.
"How good will they be?," Baker said.
"(And) you just fly to Melbourne and then fly on. They fly them (from Melbourne to Tasmania) all the time."
Before Tasmania is confirmed, Mr Tipsy will run in the Group Two Wellington Cup (2400m) at Trentham on January 25.
"The Wellington Cup is the immediate focus but the Tasmanian races are on the radar," Baker said.
Mr Tipsy comes in well at the weights in the Wellington Cup with 53.5kg and cannot be re-handicapped for his Marton Cup win.
Among Mr Tipsy's other placings are a second in the 2009 Auckland Cup (3200m) but he missed the race last year with a hoof problem that kept him from racing for nine months.
"He had a really bad foot problem," Baker said.
"It took a long time to clear and in the end we decided we had to turn him out."
The Bakers won the 2008 AJC Australian Derby with Nom Du Jeu and trained the second placegetter the following year in Harris Tweed who has run fifth in the past two Melbourne Cups.
