Picture perfect debut for Lyn Baskett

By Jordan Gerrans

"Hang it in the Louvre" has become a popular phrase online and on social media in recent years.

It refers to a photograph or video that deserves to be celebrated and remembered by being installed at the famous Louvre Museum in Paris.

It might not be France for hobby trainer Lyn Baskett but the performance of her debutant three-year-old on Saturday warrants being recognized somewhere.

It will likely be on the wall of her Darling Downs property.

Baskett’s young gelding – The Louvre – put in an eye-catching effort first-up to land the big QTIS cash at his first race day experience.

“All his jump-outs have been good and he has always looked like he was going to be a nice, little racehorse from the start,” Baskett said.

“He has had it all and been keen. He was good on the track and always wanted to be a racehorse.

“He really surprised me with how he pulled away in the end of the race and he took the turn well. He stayed right there and all he wanted was the rail.”

The Louvre jumped smartly from the three alley over the short and sharp 860 metre trip on Saturday at Gatton and went on to win by more than three lengths in a strong performance. 

The son of Under The Louvre impressed in his first trial at Toowoomba in May of last year before a lacklustre effort in his second public appearance in October.

The bay gelding ran up to his first trial in his maiden start in the QTIS Three-Year-Old Maiden Plate.

The Louvre’s victory provided the Baskett barn with their first winner since August of 2022 and just their fifth overall since the 2008-09 campaign.

The 81-year-old Baskett previously had as many as six in work earlier in her time in the industry as well as breeding a couple of horses.

She has focused on purchasing juveniles more so in recent years, headlined by The Louvre and He's Invading, who is yet to head to the races.

“It was very good and the best first-up run I have had for a long time, I think,” Baskett said of The Louvre’s triumph.

“It was great to see as I have not had one like that for a long time.

“He is only a little fella but he is good – he has skinny legs and everything else.

“We have put our time in with him. He has come out good in his first start, there is no doubt about that.”

The veteran trainer praised the ride of Jade Metcalfe aboard The Louvre with the apprentice partnering the gelding in a jump-out recently, as well.

Baskett hails from Augathella and rode all her own trackwork in the early stages of her training career.

Baskett races her promising young gelding with her husband Bill.

“It was a good win,” Bill said.

The Darling Downs couple are retired after working in the transport industry, sending trucks to and from Darwin for many years.

The Louvre’s grandsire is Group 1-winner Swiss Ace.

Swiss Ace was prepared by the late Caloundra trainer Mick Mair.

The great Swiss Ace was one of the best Mair ever put a saddle on.

Swiss Ace won 12 of his 20 career starts, headlined by the 2009 Group 1 Oakleigh Plate.

Swiss Ace also collected a Weetwood Handicap on the Darling Downs as well as a Group 2 Sir Byrne Hart Stakes – now known as the Victory Stakes – and a Listed Chief De Beers Quality in 2008.

Baskett can see a little bit of Swiss Ace in her stable newcomer.

“This fella with all his early speed, I think that may come from the Swiss Ace side,” she said.

The stable are likely to find a suitable race at Toowoomba or Ipswich in the coming weeks for The Louvre as they aim to step him up in trip.

He's Invading had two trials last year but is yet to be seen publicly in 2025.