Belclare can book her spot on a plane to Perth if she gets one over rival Magic Time for a second time in the group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on .
Trainer Bjorn Baker is already taking stable gun Overpass back to the west and knows Belclare would more than hold her own.
Belclare is top pick in the Hot Danish.Credit: Getty Images
The seven-year-old mare broke through for her first Australian win at Randwick last start, holding out Grahame Begg’s Magic Time in the $2 million Invitation. Makarena was third before coming out and running a close fourth in the Golden Eagle.
“It’s a tough race again,” Baker said. “Magic Time is a high-class mare, but Belclare is in really good order. She’ll be positive and put herself there, and hopefully take the luck out of it.”
“We’ll see what happens, but maybe we’d consider going to Perth with her. I’ve won the Quokka twice and Winterbottom with Overpass.
“Overpass is in the Champions Sprint [at Flemington]. It’s a tough race, but he’s won down the Flemington straight before, and he’ll head back for the Winterbottom should all go well this weekend. As for Rosehill, Belclare is probably our best hope.”
Last-start winner Iknowastar will tackle the Sydney feature Five Diamonds, along with stablemate Amor Victorious, and Baker said the only question mark was whether the pair would see out a strong 1800m.
Iknowastar clung to victory over Territory Express – the early Five Diamonds favourite – last start on a track that was favouring horses that led or were on the speed.
“I’d be leaning towards Iknowastar, the barrier blanket goes on, which will help him jump,” Baker said.
