Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker hopes an edge in residual fitness can help Caballus upset the Chris Waller triple threat in the group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Randwick.
Waller’s resuming stars Joliestar ($2.60), Angel Capital ($4.20) and Lady Shenandoah ($3.40) lead the market for the Expressway, which was down to six runners on Thursday.
Caballus winning the listed Ortensia Stakes at Scone in May last year.Credit: Getty Images
Caballus, next best at $4.80, is also resuming, but the five-year-old is coming off a three-length domination in the group 3 George Moore Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on December 6 and a 12.5-length trial victory over 1000m at Rosehill on January 29.
Based on that hit-out, Baker considered a shot at the group 1 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday but opted for the Expressway.
Although a grade below the straight race, the Expressway has multiple group 1 winners in Joliestar and Lady Shenandoah, and one seemingly in waiting in Angel Capital.
Baker said the weight of 56.5 kilograms, less than the Waller trio, was a factor in choosing the Expressway, but he hoped to take the three-time group 3 winner to Melbourne for a major race off the back of Saturday’s run.
“The 1200 probably suits slightly better, 1000 might be a touch on the sharp side, we don’t have to travel and we’ve got Tommy on,” Baker said.
“We haven’t got a lot of options and this race suits him very well in terms of the set weights and penalties, and he comes here with the most recent run under his belt against the big guns.
“He’s got a bit of residual fitness, but he’ll probably need every advantage he can get against these horses.
