Baccarat Baby after third Stakes win in Wayne Wilson

By Glenn Davis

Trainer David Vandyke believes Baccarat Baby can rebound from her first ever defeat on her home track when the mare attempts to claim her third Stakes victory in the Listed Wayne Wilson at the Sunshine Coast on Friday.

Baccarat Baby was unbeaten in four starts at the Sunshine Coast prior to her last start when she finished second to the Tony Gollan-trained Silvera over 1400 metres on April 25.

The four-year-old will be ridden by Michael Hellyer who has partnered her in 18 of her 20 starts and will jump from barrier eight.

Vandyke wasn’t disappointed with the four-year-old mare’s latest effort when she went down by a half neck and believes 1600 metres will be more to her liking.

It was only her second start this campaign enroute to her main mission in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 6.

The four-year-old made her comeback finishing a credible second under 60kgs behind Mishani Hustler over 1200 metres at Doomben two weeks earlier.

“She pulled up well after her last run and this is a nice progression stepping up to 1600 metres,” Vandyke said.

“I was very happy with her last run when she had a cruisy run and only just went down.

“She carried 59.5kgs last time and drops to 57kgs on Friday.”

Baccarat Bay, a winner of eight of her 20 starts, claimed Black-Type twice in the Listed Princess Stakes at the Sunshine Coast in April last year before winning the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in June.

As well Baccarat Baby ran second in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas and Group 3 Fred Best Classic last winter.

“She’s performed well right throughout her career and has won Black-Type multiple times,” Vandyke said.

Baccarat Baby competed well at the highest level last spring finishing fifth to Kiwi star Melody Belle in the Group 1 Empire Rose at Flemington on November 2 which followed a creditable sixth in the Group 2 Tristarc at Caulfield in October.

The Wayne Wilson will be Baccarat Baby’s final hit-out before the Stradbroke Handicap.

“I expect her to run very well again and it’ll be three weeks before she runs again in the Stradbroke,” Vandyke said.

“I haven’t decided yet but there’s a chance if she pulls up well after the Stradbroke that she may back-up a week later in the (Group 2) Dane Ripper at Eagle Farm.”

Racing Queensland webnews - May 13