Legal Esprit bids for another Weetwood chance

By Glenn Davis

Former Clifford Park groundsman and clerk of the course, Don “Ducky” Baker, is hopeful Legal Esprit can give him his second hometown win in next month’s Listed Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba.

The 67-year-old Baker once worked for the Toowoomba Turf Club before starting his training career late in life and has a small team of three horses in work at Toowoomba.

“I used to do a lot of breaking in before I started training and I worked as a groundsman and clerk of the course at Toowoomba for around 16 years,” Baker said.

Baker, who has never had a large team, has become an institution in the Toowoomba region winning a host of country Cups and sprint features including the Weetwood Handicap with Mr Favulous in 2015.

Baker will saddle up Legal Esprit in the Open Handicap over 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday and will give the gelding one more run before targeting the $160,000 Weetwood Handicap at Toowoomba on September 28.

Legal Esprit has had one previous attempt to win the Weetwood when he finished seventh to Axe two years ago.

“He had no luck that day and wasn’t beaten far after being three wide,” Baker said.

“I’ll give him one more run after the Sunshine Coast before heading to the Weetwood next month.”

Legal Esprit will be chasing his 11th win at his 34th start when he stretches out to 1400 metres at the Sunshine Coast.

The six-year-old wound up his last preparation with two wins including a dominant victory in the Gold Jewel over the same trip at the Gold Coast in March.

In his return to racing this campaign, Legal Esprit showed he was close to his best with a fast-finishing second to the Daniel Bowen-trained Tectonic Plate in a 1200 metre Open Handicap at Eagle Farm last month.

“His first-up run was very good as he had to give away 8.5kgs to the winner,” Baker said.

“That’s why I’ve decided to claim by booking Melea Castle who has won on him.”

Legal Esprit has had no leg problems throughout his career despite his well-documented “wonky” front legs.

“He’s got the worst pair of wonky front legs you’ve ever seen but they don’t bother him,” Baker said.

“If they ever did, I’d stop racing him straight away.

“He was sold to Hong Kong for $600,000 a few years ago but he was never going to pass the vet test.”

Baker has only been training for around 20 years after moving to Toowoomba in 1988.

He is yet to win a Group 1 race but one slipped through his fingers when he lost Russeting a week out from her win in the Group 1 Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm in 2009.

“I trained Russeting most of her career, but she was sold five days before she won the (Group 1) Winter Stakes for Bart (Cummings),” Baker recalled.

“I’ve had some good horses over the years like Jet Style, who won a (Listed) Brisbane Handicap and (Listed) Recognition Stakes, as well."