A return to the winner’s stall has been a welcome turnaround for trainer and horse, as the Bjorn Baker-prepared Amor Victorious outlasted his rivals to capture the Group Two Shannon Stakes at Rosehill.
Baker has been frustrated by a series of placings over the past few weeks, including Stefi Magnetica’s narrow second to I Am Me in The Shorts (1100m) last weekend.
It had been a similar scenario for Amor Victorious, who’d finished third, second and fourth at his three starts prior to Saturday’s Shannon Stakes (1500m) success.
“We’ve had a bit of a frustrating run, a lot of placings,” Baker said.
“Someone said it was an easy watch, I said ‘no it wasn’t, it’s a heck of a long straight’.
“His first two runs, he was up against some good horses and at the time he probably didn’t look as good as he can. I even debated whether we ran him today.
“He was full of beans, and we thought with the blinkers on, that might just sharpen him up a bit.”
The gear change did the trick with Amor Victorious ($8.50) making the running for Tyler Schiller and defying the challengers to score by a half-length over Punch Lane ($14) with New Endeavour ($26) another three-quarters of a length away third.
The win had extra merit given the saddle slipped on Amor Victorious shortly after the start.
“Straight out of the gates, I reckon,” Schiller said of the mishap.
“He jumped really sharp, did everything right and pretty much I just rode to Bjorn’s instructions. I just quickened up from the 600 and tried to get them chasing.
“He did a great job to tough it out and I thought he was very brave.”
Baker confirmed the $2 million Five Diamonds (1800m) at Rosehill on November 9 was the likely target for Amor Victorious.
Celestial Legend started a $4 favourite and was a clear last early before making some late headway to finish sixth, beaten almost 2-1/2 lengths.
Jockey Kerrin Mcevoy rated it as an even effort under his 59kg topweight, but wondered if Celestial Legend might be a better horse at Randwick.
“Disappointing to see him sluggish into stride and back last,” McEvoy said.
“He ground his way home. I was expecting a better finish.
“I know we had a penalty, and I know he has won at Rosehill as well, but he could be a horse who enjoys a bigger track like Randwick.”