Bjorn Baker to launch two-pronged The Gong attack ahead of massive weekend with Darby Racing

The Warwick Farm conditioner will go in search of feature wins in two states and a territory over two days with a Darby-raced two-pronged attack leading his assault closer to home.

Amor Victorious and Sandpaper will line-up just over three hours before Baker and Darby’s Iowna Merc attempts to put his name up in lights in the Group 1 $1.5m Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot.

Twenty four hours later they’ll also combine with Mayfair in the $200,000 Canberra Community Chest (1400m) in the ACT.

But victory in The Gong will be the first port of call as Amor Victorious and Sandpaper look to take the challenge to defending champ and hot favourite Gringotts ($2.10) in Kembla’s richest event.

Amor Victorious is on the comeback trail this preparation after missing close to a year while battling niggling knee issues.

The son of Carravaggio blew out the cobwebs with an eighth behind Jimmysstar in the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) first-up last month and is expected to be a sharp improver.

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“Amor Victorious is second-up but we’ve given him four trials so we’ve done plenty with him,” Baker said.

“He gets in there with a pretty good weight and from gate one we will be positive, and definitely want to lead with him.

“He had a few soundness issues that kept him out but I think he is going well and his work on Tuesday was really good.

“He is rock hard fit and well, will really need to get back to his top in a hurry after such a long time off is a bit of a question mark but if he runs up to his best, he is not out of it.”

Bookies rate Amor Victorious, an $8.50 chance with Rachel King to ride, as Baker’s better chance but the trainer stresses Sandpaper ($31) isn’t out of it.

Sandpaper strikes The Gong third-up after tiring late when seventh in the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1500m) last time out and is poised to produce a peak performance with Ash Morgan aboard.

“I think Sandpaper is going well,” Baker said.

“Last time he was jumping up considerably in trip so he was entitled to get tired but he did box on pretty well in that race.

“He definitely deserves his chance, gets in with a lightweight and third-up now, he is well suited.

“He will put himself right there as well and take luck out of it so he’s not out of it as well.”

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The Baker-Darby connection also have Midnight Dynamite ($6) bound for Kembla to line-up in the Elite Sand & Soil Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

Midnight Dynamite was a terrific winner two back over 1300m before failing to match the performance on the seven-day back-up back in trip.

Baker believes the rise to 1400m will suit the son of Pierata.

“The 1200m was probably just a little bit quick for Midnight Dynamite last start,” he said.

“He is one that we hope more rain does come because the wetter the better for him.

“We will leave it up to Josh (Parr), whether we go forward and lead or sit off and tuck in a little bit from the gate.”

Baker has had plenty of recent success in Perth via Overpass, which will go in search of a third consecutive Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) next weekend.

But Iowna Merc will be the focus this week as the son of Winning Rupert hunts the biggest win of his career in the Railway.

Local jockey Shaun McGruddy has been tasked with piloting Iowna Merc ($16).

“Iowna Merc has settled in week,” Baker said.

“I think it’s going to be a tricky race, stepping up in trip but if he runs up to his best from the gate he is not out of it.”

Mayfair is the $4.60 favourite to win the Canberra Community Chest on Sunday.

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Originally published as Bjorn Baker to launch two-pronged The Gong attack ahead of massive weekend with Darby Racing