Murray Baker, track rider Emily Murphy and It's A Dundeel. Source: Jay Town / News Limited
MURRAY Baker faces the training test of his career with It's A Dundeel but learned at Matamata on Saturday that anything is possible.
Baker ran a home-bred horse he described as one of the slowest he had trained. "Useless, it is,'' he said.
Baker's wife told him she was keen to plonk $50 each-way on it and Baker told her she was mad.
"It got up and paid $9, won by a neck,'' he said. "The missus was filthy on me because I talked her out of backing it. I guess is shows anything can happen.''
It's A Dundeel is the best and fastest horse Baker has trained, yet It's A Dundeel presents the great trainer with a task not dissimilar to the one achieved at Matamata.
It's A Dundeel suffered a hoof abscess last week and missed two day's work. More crucially, he missed last Saturday's Caulfield Stakes clash with Atlantic Jewel, the champion mare he'd nosed out in the Underwood Stakes.
The hoof has healed but Baker now finds himself in a race against time to have It's A Dundeel fit to take on an ominously in form Atlantic Jewel in Saturday week's Cox Plate.
One corporate bookmaker last week described the task, of recovering from injury and beating one of the all-time great mares, as near-impossible.
Its a Dundeel finishes 2nd in the Mitchelton Wines Vase Source: News Limited
Baker concedes the task is difficult but refuses to hoist the white flag.
"We've only missed two day's work but missing the race was the real concern,'' Baker said.
"But he's a naturally athletic type of horse and we think he's a chance of making it.''
Baker will arrive from New Zealand tomorrow and will gallop It's A Dundeel between races at Caulfield on Wednesday.
He will give the champion a strong hit-out at Moonee Valley's Breakfast With The Stars gallops on the Tuesday before the Cox Plate.
"Galloping at Caulfield and at the Valley are race simulation type experiences, with the crowds and all that, and I think they will really benefit him,'' he said.
Baker said Atlantic Jewel's romping win in the Caulfield Stakes was a jolting reminder of the task he and It's A Dundeel now faced.
"The mare was absolutely awesome. It's hard to say if she was better on the day than when we beat her but she was awesome just the same,'' he said.
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