New Zealander Bjorn Baker has hailed Mr Tipsy's win on Saturday as his greatest since moving countries and setting up a training base at Warwick Farm.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The gutsy seven-year-old grabbed his first career triumph in Australia by fending off Shawnee Girl in the Benchmark 80 Handicap (2400m), handing Baker his third city winner since branching out on his own.
Baker spent three years in partnership with his father Murray before setting up camp at Warwick Farm about 12 months ago.
Mr Tipsy was one of just three horses who came with him across the Tasman.
“I was thrilled - he's the only horse that I've had right through my training career which is pretty much coming up to four years,” Baker said.
“He's just a great horse to have a round, he's a good old bloke he's got character, he's not the quietest horse.
“I've been lucky I've had two city winners in the last five or six weeks on Saturdays which is great.
“It's been a pretty steep learning curve this year and it's hard going. It's very competitive racing, I came over here with three horses from New Zealand - I'm up to about 20 now and I'm getting some nice horses and being well supported.
“I'm happy enough for the first year. If you'd asked me eight or 10 weeks ago I would've said it's very much a battle but I guess the tide's turned a little bit.
“If you have any doubts then you come out and win an $85,000 race on Saturday the money is just massive, I keep pinching myself to be honest and saying how great it is.
“I'm looking out my office now at Warwick Farm and I can see the sunshine and the trees, and it's a great set-up.”
Mr Tipsy, who ran fifth in the 2009 BMW (2400m) before finishing third in the Sydney Cup (3200m), was unplaced in three runs this campaign prior to Saturday's win.
Apprentice Lauri Wray settled the top weight one off the fence in fourth spot before peeling wide in the straight where he squared went stride for stride with Shawnee Girl to the line.
“I thought he was probably getting to a rating where he could've won and it was back in class the race,” Baker said.
“As well as that he was getting a lot fitter, he took a long time to get fit.
“His runs initially were fairly spaced and there weren't a lot of races for him. I had a bit of confidence going in I thought he'd run a good race.”
Baker has nominated the seven-year-old for Saturday's Benchmark 85 Handicap (2200m) at Warwick Farm.
