By Jordan Gerrans
Described as being like a father figure to many, an excellent horseman and great supporter of apprentice jockeys, Roma trainer Wayne Baker has left a lasting impact on the Downs region of Queensland.
The former jockey turned trainer has been within the racing industry for the best part of half a century in various roles while training in a number of different locations over the journey.
While he has ridden countless winners and trained many more over the years, a home town Roma Cup as a trainer has eluded the stalwart of racing and he gets a chance to claim his first this weekend.
He won a couple as a jockey as a youngster and he is desperate to add one as a trainer to his resume as well.
The Baker stable has two hopefuls in the $45,000 Roma Cup for 2021 - Rinviata and Maximum Hustle, the latter of the two being the first emergency with the stable hopeful he gets a run.
Chestnut gelding Maximum Hustle has won his last two efforts on the bounce with the last of those being in TAB grade last Saturday night at Toowoomba.
Rinviata is a 2021 Springsure Cup winner earlier in his preparation but he is yet to run better than third in his last four trips to the races.
For former jockey Jessikah-Lee Brand, being apart of a Roma Cup triumph for the Baker barn would be a significant occasion.
She began her apprenticeship under Baker many years ago before having children and while she no longer rides in races, she is a regular track work hoop and everything else around the stable.
“Wayne is a great bloke and the type of person that would give you the shirt of his back if you needed it,” Brand said.
“He is a bit rough around the edges when you first meet him, you may think he is a bit shady but he is a genuine bloke.
“He took me in when I started my apprenticeship and has been like a father to me the whole time I have been with him.
“I cannot fault him really. It has always been a big dream of his to win the Roma Cup so with two runners in it this year, hopefully he has got a good chance.”
Originally from Charleville, Brand moved to Toowoomba for her riding career – where she first met Baker - before moving out to Roma Turf Club with the trainer.
The Baker name is synonymous with racing in the Sunshine State with participants from the family stretching all across Queensland.
Starting in the industry as a 14-year-old, Baker has not trained many stayers until the last few years he explained, previously focusing his attention on sprinters.
Now with a couple of stayers in his barn, he is hopeful a maiden Roma Cup as a trainer is not far away.
"Maximum Hustle is the horse that can win the race," Baker said.
"We took him to Barcaldine a few starts back on the turf and he really enjoyed that, so that is why we took him to Toowoomba and he won well there.
"We ran fourth in the Roma Cup last year and it is only the last few seasons we have started having stayers, we have been buying more staying horses and having new owners that are interested in them."