Dissident

Legend encourages Kiwis to switch: ‘You Aussies have a different DNA to us'
Despite his recent retirement champion New Zealand trainer Murray Baker will be watching Saturday’s Doomben Cup closely. Picture: AAP.       As legendary trainer Murray Baker prepares to put his feet up in retirement and cheer on warrior stayer The Chosen One in Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup, he has laid bare one regret of his grand training career.
The New Zealand training genius, 75, is enthralled by the success of Australian racing and in awe of the achievements of former Kiwis Chris Waller and James McDonald.
Baker wishes he had also made a full-time move to Australia at some point.
In retirement, Baker plans to encourage the next wave of talented New Zealand trainers and jockeys to take a chance and up stumps and move to Australia in search of greater racing opportunities and riches.
“People in New Zealand racing often say to me they are thinking of going to Australia, what do I think, I say just go,” Baker told News Corp.
“In 15 years you can’t look over your shoulder and think I wish I had gone.
“Personally, I do wish I had given it a crack. There is a lot of frustration with New Zealand racing, the Government is not over-keen on it, prizemoney is bad, anyone will tell you they have to address it.
“Prizemoney is so good in Australia, even if you get an average horse you are still in front. I’ve got the greatest admiration for Australian racing, you are so unbelievably lucky.
“It is well managed and it seems to be at all levels.”

Murray Baker has some strong views on racing in two countries. Picture: AAP.
Baker, fresh from a visit to the dentist’s chair to fill a couple of holes in his teeth, told how his regular FIFO visits to Australian carnivals over the years had rammed home the monumental difference in attitude in racing Down Under to in his Kiwi homeland.
For instance, when Baker has often jetted into Auckland for a trip to Ellerslie races, the taxi drivers have little or no interest in racing.
READ: MASSIVE BARNEY OVER EVICTION OF GROUP 1-WINNING TRAINER FROM EAGLE FARM
It’s a very different story on the dozens of Group 1 missions that Baker has made to Australia.
“You get into a cab in Sydney or Melbourne and the cabbie finds out you are a horse trainer, they say they will pull the cab over because they want to find out what races my horses are in and if they are worth backing,” Baker laughs.
“Australians love betting and they love to own a horse, they love to be part of the action.
“You Aussies have a different (racing) DNA to us, you love to have a punt and love the fizz of it.
“People want to be involved. Australian racing – is there anything better? I don’t think there is.
 
“The number one thing in New Zealand is they have to address the prizemoney, because we now have a lot of horses going to Australia and they are raced by New Zealand owners.
“Once they get touched by Australian racing they don’t usually come back again, because of the prizemoney.”
In retirement, Baker is planning some European travels with his Swedish-born wife Marianne.
He also has a flock of 11 hungry ewes to tend to on his four-acre property.
Even as his own training career wound up, Baker continued to enjoy the success of former Kiwis Waller and McDonald.

Murray Baker always knew James McDonald was going to be a smash hit. Picture: Michael Klein.
Baker has clear early racing memories of both – and he knew almost from the first minute he saw them that they were destined for big things.
“James is a Cambridge boy and there is no-one better, I thought from day one he was destined to be a superstar,” Baker said.
“He just had such a natural talent. Even at a young age he was very well rounded and he had a good head on his shoulders.
“I also knew Waller from when he started off. I remember he was always very thorough and he knew what he was doing, I always thought he was destined to make it.
“He might become the greatest trainer ever. He doesn’t make mistakes does he?
“His horses are in the right races and they are winning.”

Murray Baker says Chris Waller simply doesn’t make mistakes and could become the greatest trainer ever. Picture: Getty Images.
When he was in the twilight stages of his career, Baker trained in partnership with Andrew Forsman who has The Chosen One racing on Saturday as a $23 chance in the Doomben Cup.
It is hard to see The Chosen One knocking off $1.50 favourite Zaaki but Baker isn’t entirely ruling it out.
“The Chosen One is a modern-day Marco Polo, he has campaigned a bit,” Baker said.
“But he is a good quiet horse and he has performed admirably without getting that really big win.
READ: MASSIVE BARNEY OVER EVICTION OF GROUP 1-WINNING TRAINER FROM EAGLE FARM
“One thing I will say is that he does go well fresh. I will watch The Chosen One on Saturday and I will watch all my former horses go around.
“But I made the right decision to retire, I had a fair lick at training, 44 years. You can look over your shoulder and think you have some nice horses and think what about next season?
“But that just goes on and on and on. It was time for a new chapter in my life.”
       

Haha...Guerin reminds me of a used car salesman...Luke Radich should be in a position to get some things done he is just what's needed...but hang on maybe thats why they won't ask him.🤣

Is it just me or is this a bad idea...what more can she do really...Chris made her the horse she is and when she clearly seems on her last campaign to be past her best..why take her off there guy who knows her inside and out to ask her to start all over again with someone new...I feel sorry for Chris I guess loyalty is not a big thing to the ownership group...I could never do that to someone who had done such a fantastic job...I wish the mare well but it just seems a strange decision to me...lets see how it all goes.

Top bloke who deserves all the accolades he recieved

No doubt one of our very best....enjoy your retirement you have definitely earned it.....👏
 
 

Murray Baker retires from training at the end of April. Photo: Trish Dunell Murray Baker had huge impact as a trainer
Tim Barton for LOVERACING.NZ
28 April 2022 Murray Baker has been the king of the classics.
The Cambridge horseman, who retires from training at the end of April, has won 26 Group I three-year-old races and his honour roll includes nine Derbies and five Oaks victories.
There have also been four wins apiece in the NZ Two Thousand Guineas and Levin Classic and a NZ St Leger victory when the race had Group I status.
Four of Baker’s fillies have topped the NZB Filly of the Year series and the stable has won almost 30 individual races in the fillies series but, oddly, never the One Thousand Guineas.
Baker’s first win as a trainer attracted little attention – a non-tote maiden at Otaki with Vizier in October 1978 - but his first black-type win came in the same season, when three-year-old Vizier beat Uncle Remus in the Jackson Stakes at Whanganui.
There have been another 269 stakes wins since, in a career which has earned Baker a place in the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame and ensured he would be ranked among the top echelon of New Zealand trainers.
He has been spectacularly successful in Australia, and - since the introduction of the Group system, in the late 1970s - has won more Group I races in Australia than any other New Zealand-based trainer.
His standout achievement has been his five Australian Derby winners, an extraordinary feat for a New Zealand-based trainer, putting Baker in truly elite company.
The blue riband Australian Derby has been run in Sydney since 1861 but only three trainers have won the race more than four times, the two others being the Australian training titans Tommy Smith and Bart Cummings. Smith - who dominated Sydney racing for more than three decades – is well ahead of the pack with nine wins, with Baker and Cummings on five.
Baker has also had two seconds in the Australian Derby and his 22 Group I victories in Australia also include the Victoria Derby, Australian Oaks, and South Australian Oaks.
Dundeel won four Group I races in Australia in his three-year-old campaign and the Group II Tulloch Stakes in Sydney has fallen to a Baker three-year-old five times.
The elite wins across the Tasman by his older horses include the Caulfield, Sydney and Brisbane Cups and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney, along with four wins in the Group I Underwood Stakes at the Melbourne spring carnival.
Baker has had nine Melbourne Cup runners, with six finishing in the top five but a win proved elusive. The Phantom was luckless when fourth in 1989 and was runner-up the following year, behind Kingston Rule, who still holds the race record time.
In all, Baker has won 48 black-type races in Australia and around 60 overall.
A key factor in Baker’s Australian record has been his ability to recognise horses with the potential to succeed across the Tasman and then back his judgement.
He was happy to go to Australia when the horses were still on their way up, rather than waiting till they showed something like their best form, in order to justify the trip.
Though Baker is best known for his success with three-year-olds and stayers, he has also made a mark with juveniles and his winning catalogue includes the Karaka Million at Ellerslie and multiple wins in the two Group I races for two-year-olds in New Zealand.
His last Group I win came with the two-year-old filly Lickety Split, in the Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie in March.
Baker, who turned 76 on April 21, spent his first 22 years as a trainer in the central districts, mostly at Woodville, which was then a thriving training centre.
However, he joined the drift north, to Cambridge, in 2000 and the last 20 years of his career proved to be his best. He also took on two talented training partners, first son Bjorn, who is now a leading trainer in Sydney, and then Andrew Forsman, who will be in sole charge from May 1.
The Baker-Forsman partnership began in the 2012-13 season and has been a spectacular force. There were four national premierships in the space of five seasons, with the stable setting new marks in terms of wins, stake earnings and feature wins
The 10-year partnership produced more than 865 wins and 156 black-type victories.
 
First winner: Vizier - October 4, 1978, at Otaki
NZ winners: 1817 (as at April 27, 2022)
Australian winners: approximately 60
NZ Trainer of the Year awards: 5
NZ training premierships: 4
NZ Horse of the Year: 5 in succession – Dundeel, Mongolian Khan (2), Bonneval (2)
Stakes and Group wins: 270 (NZ 222, Australia 48)
Group I wins: 57 (NZ 35, Australia 22)
Group II wins: 58 (NZ 45, Australia 13)
Group III wins: 70 (NZ 63, Australia 7)
Listed wins: 85 (NZ 79, Australia 6)
 
NEW ZEALAND GROUP I WINS 
1985      Sir Vigilant                         NZ St Leger
1990      Miss Stanima                     Auckland Cup
1990      Eagle Eye                            Bayer (Levin) Classic
1991      Let’s Sgor                           NZ Oaks
1991      Let’s Sgor                           Great Northern Champion Stakes
1992      Staring                                NZ Oaks
1993      Staring                                Zabeel Classic
2002      Emerald Dream                Waikato International (Herbie Dyke)
2002      Prized Gem                        Kelt (Livamol) Stakes
2004      Ambitious Owner             Levin Classic
2008      Fully Fledged                     Diamond Stakes (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce)
2009      The Heckler                       Manawatu Sires’ Produce
2010      We Can Say It Now          Levin Classic
2010      We Can Say It Now          Captain Cook Stakes
2013      Atlante                               NZ 2000 Guineas
2014      Turn Me Loose                 NZ 2000 Guineas
2015      Mongolian Khan               NZ Derby
2015      Dal Cielo                            Diamond Stakes (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce)
2015      Sakhee’s Soldier               Bonecrusher NZ Stakes
2015      Diademe                            NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes
2016      Luna Rossa                        Manawatu Sires’ Produce
2017      Lizzie L’Amour                   Bonecrusher NZ Stakes
2017      Bonneval                            NZ Oaks
2017      Charmont                           NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes
2018      Stolen Dance                     Thorndon Mile
2018      Lizzie L’Amour                   Waikato International (Herbie Dyke) Stakes
2018      Vin De Dance                    NZ Derby
2018      Saint Emilion                     Bonecrusher NZ Stakes
2018      Madison County               NZ 2000 Guineas
2019      Madison County               Levin Classic
2019      Nicoletta                            NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes
2019      True Enough                      Zabeel Classic
2020      Aegon                                 NZ 2000 Guineas
2022      The Chosen One               Thorndon Mile
2022      Lickety Split                       Sistema (Ellerslie Sires’ Produce) Stakes
 
AUSTRALIAN GROUP I WINS
1990      The Phantom                     Underwood Stakes
1992      Eagle Eye                            Ranvet Stakes
1992      Eagle Eye                            Sydney Cup
2002      Prized Gem         `              Brisbane Cup
2004      Dowry                                 South Australian Oaks
2008      Nom Du Jeu                       Australian (AJC) Derby
2010      Lion Tamer                        Victoria Derby
2011      Lion Tamer                        Underwood Stakes
2012      Dundeel                             Spring Champion Stakes              
2013      Dundeel                             Randwick Guineas
2013      Dundeel                             Rosehill Guineas              
2013      Dundeel                             Australian Derby
2013      Dundeel                             Underwood Stakes
2014      Dundeel                             Queen Elizabeth Stakes
2015      Mongolian Khan               Australian Derby
2015      Mongolian Khan               Caulfield Cup
2015      Turn Me Loose                 Emirates Stakes
2016      Turn Me Loose                 Futurity Stakes
2017      Bonneval                           AJC Oaks
2017      Bonneval                           Underwood Stakes
2017      Jon Snow                           Australian Derby
2020      Quick Thinker                   Australian Derby           
  
GROUP II IN AUSTRALIA 
1987      Palliser                                Tulloch Stakes
1990      The Phantom                     Memsie Stakes
1993      The Bill                                Tulloch Stakes
2002      Prized Gem                        Prime Minister’s Cup
2009      Harris Tweed                     Tulloch Stakes
2015      Turn Me Loose                  Crystal Mile
2016      Saracino                             Danehill Stakes
2017      Jon Snow                            Tulloch Stakes
2017      Bonneval                            Feehan Stakes
2019      Quick Thinker                    Tulloch Stakes
2019      The Chosen One               Herbert Power
2021      Quick Thinker                    Chairman’s Handicap
2021      Hobartville Stakes            Aegon
 
GROUP III IN AUSTRALIA
1991      Pontiac Lass                       Colin Stephen Handicap
2012      Dundeel                              Gloaming Stakes
2013      Usainity                              Packer Plate
2016      Eleonora                             Ethereal Stakes
2017      Jon Snow                            JRA Cup
2019      Quick Thinker                    Ming Dynasty Handicap 
2019      The Chosen One               Packer Plate
 
LISTED IN AUSTRALIA
1991      Steineck                              Jupiter Casino Stakes (Caulfield)
2010      Lion Tamer                        Ming Dynasty Handicap
2010      Harris Tweed                     Bart Cummings
2015      Turn Me Loose                 Seymour Cup
2017      Weather With You           Geelong Classic
2019      Long Jack                           Geelong Classic
 
AUSTRALIAN GROUP I PLACINGS
SECOND 
1989                     The Phantom                     South Australian Derby
1990                     The Phantom                    Melbourne Cup
1991                     Eagle Eye                            Australian Guineas
1992                     Eagle Eye                           Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Sydney)
2008                     Nom Du Jeu                       Queen Elizabeth Stakes                
2008                     Nom Du Jeu                       Caulfield Cup
2009                     Harris Tweed                    Australian Derby
2010                     Harris Tweed                     Caulfield Cup
2017                     Turn Me Loose                 Orr Stakes
2019                     Madison County               Australian Derby
2020                     The Chosen One               Sydney Cup
 
THIRD 
1989                     The Phantom                    Caulfield Cup
1989                     The Phantom                     Underwood Stakes
2010                     Harris Tweed                     Sydney Cup
2018                     Eleonora                             Australian Oaks
 
MELBOURNE CUP RUNNERS
1989                     The Phantom                     4th
1990                     The Phantom                     2nd             
1991                     Pontiac Lass                      21st
2008                     Nom Du Jeu                       8th
2009                     Harris Tweed                     5th
2010                     Harris Tweed                     5th
2019                     The Chosen One               17th
2020                     The Chosen One               4th
2021                     The Chosen One               5th
 
GROUP RACE WINNING HORSES
7 wins: Dundeel (six Grp 1).
6 wins: Bonneval (3 Grp 1), Staring (2 Grp 1).
5 wins: Mongolian Khan (3 Grp I), Turn Me Loose (3 Grp 1). 
 
FAVOURITE GROUP RACES 
5 wins:  Grp I Australian Derby, Group II Tulloch Stakes (Sydney), Grp II Cal Isuzu Stakes (Te Rapa), Grp III Gold Trail Stakes.
4 wins: Grp I Underwood Stakes (Melbourne), Grp I NZ Two Thousand Guineas, Grp I Levin Classic, Grp II Wellington Guineas, Sir Tristram Classic, Eulogy Stakes.

Wow how amazing is that. That would quickly change some sport horse peoples reluctance to take on an ex-racehorse🤣. 

Winner of $2,000,000....ran in 4 Melbourne Cups....now one of Australia's best show horses...
    

Wyong, New South Wales, Race Two
No 3 9x43 Duke Of Gordon 3g by Dissident(AUS) ex Miss Cosimo(AUS) by Giant's Causeway(USA) 80k
Odds:$3.20 $1.30.

Wow he really thinks outside the box what a great initiative...no wonder they are streets ahead....maybe we could set something up at the Bombay hills LOL.

Wow how amazing is that. That would quickly change some sport horse peoples reluctance to take on an ex-racehorse🤣. 

Wow how amazing is that. That would quickly change some sport horse peoples reluctance to take on an ex-racehorse🤣. 

Wow how amazing is that. That would quickly change some sport horse peoples reluctance to take on an ex-racehorse🤣. 

Equimillion Launched – $1m Equestrian Event For Retired Thoroughbred Racehorses  
It was today announced that Racing NSW will be launching an equestrian event with a minimum of $1 million in prizemoney exclusively for retired Thoroughbred racehorses called Equimillion.
  Equimillion will showcase the versatility and suitability of Thoroughbreds for careers outside of racing, with the inaugural event to be held on the October long weekend in 2023.
  The $1 million plus in prizemoney on offer at Equimillion will be distributed across a range of disciplines and classes in the biggest two-day equestrian event ever to be held in NSW.
  The Equimillion competition will include eventing, show jumping, dressage and showing with a particular focus on amateur competitors.
  Ahead of the event, Racing NSW will host an auction for recently retired Thoroughbred racehorses, with those horses being purchased at the auction being eligible to compete at Equimillion.
  “Equimillion will become the go to event for equestrian competitors in all disciplines,” said Racing NSW Chief Executive, Peter V’landys AM.
  “It has the potential to carry more than the $1 million in prizemoney and in time will be not only a major equestrian event, but a major event for NSW with competitors coming from all states of Australia,” Mr V’landys AM added.
  Further information regarding the Equimillion auction and event will be announced shortly. For more information email  equimillion@racingnsw.com.au

Congratulations Chris Wood with Funtonic.Looks like he's a fairly handy horse for you and your team.I own his sire and bought him last year as he had been basically in limbo for the past three or four years.Most stock racing here are aged four to about seven and he leaves winners or placed horse most weeks with few runners now.I mainly bought him for a few of my own mares and to race the progeny later. Well done Chris and good luck for Funtonics future. 

Me too. Went to watch my old jumper have a gallop this morning. Loved it. Then come back to see horses having to canter down the tarmac to get to the birdcage. Tragic.
 

Noted Tavistock sired multiple winners today...2 x GR.3's at Flemington 1 x GR.3 Rosehill  1 x Trentham & 1 x Pukekohe even his son Tarzino sired one at Eagle Farm.

A real loss to the (NZ) breeding industry!

Evening 50 win No1
Yeah Tasman Man is not to far off the mark
April 1 Meeting an Open Entry Hurdle 27 April at Hawera   
May: 4 Meetings: Te Rapa (7th) Wanganui (12th) Manawatu Chase & Awapuni Hurdles (PJ Meeting) (21st) & Wellington (28th)
June 3 Meetings: Hawkes Bay )PJ Meeting) (6th) this was McGregor Grant & KS BROWNE Day, Waikato Hurdles & Chase (PJ Meeting)  (18th) & Rotorua (26th)
July  4 Meetings: Hawkes Bay Hurdles & Chase (PJ Meeting) (2nd) Egmont (10th) Wellington Hurdles & Chase PJ Meeting) (16th) Waikato (30th)
August  4 Meetings:  Riccarton (Grand National Meeting (6th - 10th & 13th) Rotorua (21st)
September 3 Meetings  Pakuranga HC @ Te apa R(PJ Meeting) (4th) Old Great Northern Meeting @ Te Rapa (PJ Meting) 18th  Wanagnui (22nd)
October  1 Meeting National Jumps Day @ Wanganui (2nd)
In addition to this there will be 14 Highweights races from 23 March though to 25 May
Cheers
 
Paul Claridge
National Jumps Coordinator

Evening 50 Win no 1
I'll try and answer what I can based on figures retained from last season
Number of Jumpers in NZ?
Last season we had 121 individual horse start in Hurdle races 72 horses which started in a Chase and 39 which start in both Hurdle and chase races; this equates to 154 Individual horse who raced in a jumps race last season
How many intending to qualify this season?
How long is a piece of string; sorry no data available yet but we have trials / PTP schedule for Waverley Cambridge and Rotorua. There is also Jumping days plan in Matamata so hopefully some new horse will emerge along these pathways but of course we now have the broader open so some may head to Australia for the upcoming Carnival's
What grade are our Jumpers
Based on last years stats:
121 Hurdlers         78 @  the end of the season were maidens       25 had won 1 race  7 had won 2 races and 11 3+ races
72 Chasers            38 @ the end of the season were maidens         18 had won 1 race 7 had won 2 races and 9 3+ races 
(NB; This includes the 39 Dual jumpers)
Hope that answers your questions
Regards
 
Paul

Kind hands and they just run for him, he’s a huge asset to racing 
That was a great G1 win 
The RIB and JCA should be ashamed of the way they’ve bullied and abused the kid 
Thank god NZTR didn’t cave in to the RIB’s ludicrous demands they take his licence away  permanently 
It’s high time the RIB offered some resignations over the ongoing abuse of this kid 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/horse-racing-pareanui-bay-dies-after-paddock-fall/B3JFIIIDNM4I766WGCCSWFW7R4/?c_id=4&objectid=12505009

You are kidding Meomy, you have never worked with him obviously.
Or recall the reason why he left the ATC either……🙄

Real concern being expressed over here over field sizes.
The problem is this winter has been unusually mild and benign - hardly a meeting has been lost and that has exposed the jumping programme to the truth there aren't enough horses for the number of races on offer. Fields of 4-8 for races are commonplace, betting turnover is suffering and the problem is now affecting the all-weather programme. It has exposed the absurdity of six all weather tracks when at best two are required  since these can race nearly every day with minimal maintenance. 
Don't imagine for a second NZ is the only racing jurisdiction with significant issues.
Tomorrow's cards highlight the problem - Newbury has 61 for the seven races but the two Grade 2 races have four and five runners respectively. The Game Spirit is probably the final significant trial for the Champion Chase but none of the four runners are serious contenders in my view for the big race next month. HITMAN is the likely winner - his second to GREANETEEN in the Tingle Creek is decent form and we know 3200m on good to soft is ideal so I think he'll be too good for SCEAU ROYAL who is basically a hurdler who jumps fences occasionally.
FUNAMBULE SIVOLA is perhaps the interesting one - last April he got to within three lengths of SHISHKIN at Aintree and after a couple of less inspired efforts over 4000m they brought him back in trip to win at Doncaster last time.
The Denman is the equivalent for the distance chasers over 4800m and CLAN DES OBEAUX sets a serious standard here. I suspect he won't go to Cheltenham even if he wins here and will lie in wait for the Cheltenham principals at Aintree - he was arguably a touch disappointing in defeat in the King George, a race which is tailor made for him but Newbury should suit fine and while ROYALE PAGAILLE put up an excellent weight carrying performance at Haydock last time, I'm still to be convinced he is a true Gold Cup horse and he was beaten a long way in the Blue Riband last year.
Warwick has just 45 runners for its seven races and just four for the Grade 2 Kingmaker over 3200m for the novice chasers and this is the final trial for EDWARDSTONE who had THIRD TIME LUCKI 16 lengths back in third in the Henry VIII at Sandown in December. I can't see any reason why that form should be reversed and oddly enough, as I rarely bet odds-on, I think 10/11 is a decent price about EDWARDSTONE.
To illustrate the problem on the all weather, Lingfield, which stages its usual Saturday card, has just 39 runners and is only running 6 rather than the usual 7 or 8 races. 

Held the ship together, not an easy task in these testing times.

I might be the only one but for me this is what's wrong about the NZTR...sure he may be a good choice but how was the process carried out...this to me looks like a jobs for the boys scenario...I hope he does well but the process once again seems flawed...as I say JMO and I hope he is the right choice as god help us we need it to be.

Exactly. More about the dire state our health system is in, despite all that time to prepare.