Baker’s filly is full of Heart

TRAINER Bjorn Baker is banking on Hide Your Heart’s natural ability compensating for her lack of race experience when she debuts in the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

“She doesn’t have the ‘match fitness’ which counts for a lot with two-year-olds so it will be tough for her on debut,’’ Baker said.

“But it’s a $1 million race and got to be in it to win it. I think she will be able to get back, relax and I expect her to be finishing off strongly.

“It is hard to go in confident but she is nice filly with the ability to run a good race. She is not out of it.’’

Hide Your Heart is among a trio of first starters in the Golden Gift field and is at $18 in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind $3.50 favourite Captivant.

A $260,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase by Darby Racing, Hide Your Heart is a daughter of Sebring out of the Lonhro mare, Cautious, a two-time winner from seven starts.

Baker has given Hide Your Heart two barrier trials to prepare for her race debut with the filly impressing in both including her late surge to win at Randwick on a heavy track.

“Both her trials were on rain-affected ground, she is by Sebring and they tend to get through the wet track conditions,’’ Baker continued.

Understandably, Baker has more reason to be upbeat about the chances of classy mares Positive Peace and Irithea in the day’s other feature, the Group 2 $500,000 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m).

Positive Peace is back in winning form after taking out Group 3 The Nivison last start while Irithea will be improved by her first-up run when unplaced behind Trumbull in the Group 3 Sydney Stakes.

Baker was relieved Positive Peace bounced back to her best last start after three unplaced runs to start her spring campaign.

“She had such a good autumn winning five in a row including the Emancipation (Stakes, Group 2) that we had high hopes for her this spring,’’ Baker said.

‘’I thought she was going better than what she was showing us on race day - her Golden Pendant run (fourth to Subpoenaed) was actually very good - so we changed a couple of things and she’s back in form.

“Her win last start was pleasing because it came on a heavy track and she is probably a bit better on top of the ground.

“But she is well suited in this race, she is very fit and goes well at Rosehill. I can’t fault her, she is in great order.’’

Baker was also enthusiastic about the chances of Irithea, a dual Group 3 winner of the Hawkesbury Crown and Dark Jewel Classic, and earner of nearly $1 million prizemoney.

“Irithea has improved a lot from her first-up run,’’ Baker said. “She is an older mare now and takes a bit more to get fit these days but she is ready now.

“The question mark with her is the wet track, I would prefer her on a better track, too. But it’s a big race and we are happy to run.’’

Baker has four entries in the Iron Jack Handicap (1300m) – topweight Frosty Rocks, Bold And Wild, Irukandji and Shock Alert.

Frosty Rocks is the most favoured of the Baker quartet in early betting at $3.70 with the trainer agreeing the tough, front-running grey gelding should prove hard to beat.

“He gets through the wet tracks but when they are resuming you would prefer them on a slightly better track,’’ Baker admitted.

“But he has some residual fitness from last campaign and his two trials have been good. He’ll run well.’’

Baker has had a good spring carnival with feature races success from Positive Peace and St Leger winner Fun Fact (St Leger) while She’s Ideel was third in the St Leger and second in the Rosehill Gold Cup last week.

She’s Ideel gets another opportunity to break through at stakes level in the Group 2 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

“It’s not going to be easy for She’s Ideel on the back-up but she seems to have come through last Saturday’s race really well so I can’t knock her from that point of view,’’ Baker said.

“A lot will depend on how the track is playing because she is drawn wide but with this mare you know she will be strong late and the big Flemington track should suit her.’’