3 minute read
It's fair to say Group 1 winning colt Ozzmosis wasn’t himself when he made an inglorious return to racing last month but trainer Bjorn Baker is expecting the real version to turn up at Randwick on Saturday.
The boom three-year-old missed the start in the Galaxy by about eight lengths, almost dislodging Rachel King who lost use of one stirrup, and not surprisingly failed to beat a runner home.
Bjorn Baker had to go back to the drawing board, with a mandatory trial last week, and has made some changes to reboot the colt for Saturday's Group 2 $1 million Arrowfield Sprint (1200m).
One of those changes is the silks, he'll carry the Darby colours once again as part of the deal with Newgate to alternate with each start.
"We've opted for the barrier blanket and we've taken him back to the gates at Warwick Farm a couple of times as well,'' Baker said.
"Everything seems to be A-OK from that point of view.
"It definitely took us by surprise. He'd had a couple of trials into it that were really good and he's a colt with a really good attitude and a dream to deal with around the stable. I don't think it's him.
"They're animals and always keep you're guessing and as a trainer you're always learning but we're trying to take chance out of it as much as we can.
"I think he's really well prepared to do everything right.
"It's not how you handle the wins it's how you handle the losses going forward and (the owners) have all been extremely understanding and made my job easier."
It's not the first time Baker has had to regroup after a mishap at the start of a preparation and his form card in that respect is handy.
Back in July 2022 emerging mare Shades Of Rose had a similar incident out of the gates and tried to throw Tim Clark off. She'd go on that spring to win four straight including a Group 3 and earn an Everest call up.
Ozzmosis appeared at Tuesday's Breakfast with the Best gallops at Randwick and Baker said the horse will have his normal race day routine of an easy trot and a swim, and is confident he'll shake off what happened at Rosehill.
"From what we've seen at home he hasn't lost any of his ability and I still think we're yet to see the best of him,'' he said.
"He's very fast, physiologically he's always had an amazing recovery and can do things that would take a lot out of most horses.
"He's set up to run a great race from a good gate. I think he can definitely bounce back."
It seems the market is very forgiving of Ozzmosis, despite being a drifter in the betting in the Galaxy first-up he was a solid $3 favourite with TAB on Thursday.
Baker is giving Renaissance Woman another shot at a Group 1 in the $1 million Grainshaker Vodka Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m).
She was only beaten two lengths in the Coolmore Classic before stepping up to 2000m when third in the Neville Sellwood behind Serpentine.
"I thought she was entitled to peak on her run last time and that's what happened,'' he said.
"I think back to a mile really suits her, it's a really tough race and one of those races you can't be confident going into. I can see her being competitive at odds."
