She’s not the most imposing of fillies, but the Bjorn Baker-prepared two-year-old Infatuation ($4.40) has performed well above her size to take out the opening event for the babies at Royal Randwick.
The daughter of I Am Invincible was already number one on the ballot for the $2 million Magic Millions Classic to be run on the Gold Coast in a fortnight, and has further solidified her position beating race favourite The Little Pumper ($4.20F) by three quarters of a length with outsider Big Boy George ($31) another length and a quarter back in third place.
Being a product of the My Racehorse micro share syndication package, there were a stack of owners on course to celebrate the victory and Baker believes the concept can only be positive for racing.
“It’s great for those owners to have this sort of experience today,” Baker said.
“Jim Clarke bought her in conjunction with My Racehorse and it’s worked out really well.
“We bought a lot of good two-year-olds this year and I’m really confident we’re going to have a lot more two-year-old success going forward and it’s a crucial part of the industry.
“Plus the BOBS (bonus). What a state to race horses in.”
Despite being the most experienced galloper in the field, Infatuation didn’t do everything right pre-race.
“I just thought she was a bit vulnerable today, she didn’t parade that well and I think she’s got a bit of improvement,” Baker said.
“We start to talk Magic Millions and of course she’s in the race. She’s going in with a good run under the belt.”
Jockey Rachel King, who had been on board for two of her previous three outings, was proud of her mounts effort and believes there is still further progress to come.
“She’s not the biggest of horses and she was sandwiched in between the two that were a bit bigger than her,” King said.
“She did a good job, they could’ve easily intimidated her out of it.
“The run the other day (at Wyong) has done her the world of good, she’s still having a bit of a look but learning all the time.
“She still climbs a bit when she gallops, but she’s got a bit more there so hopefully that happens in two weeks time.”
Infatuation has been wound into $13 in future’s markets for the 2YO Magic Millions to be held on January 14.