Baster lands stakes double at Flemington

Saturday 16 February 2013, 5:19pm

Stephen Baster couldn't have asked for a better way to re-establish himself in Melbourne, scoring a stakes double at Flemington on Saturday.

The Group One-winning jockey rode in Singapore last year but suddenly had his licence there terminated last month which forced him to head home to Melbourne.

He rode in his first meeting back last weekend in Tasmania but really made his mark in his Melbourne metropolitan return, bringing up the stakes double with victory on Sheer Talent in the Saturday's Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m).

He had earlier teamed with two-year-old Casquets who staked her claim for a Blue Diamond start with victory in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m).

"It's been a fantastic day," Baster said.

"I couldn't have asked for a better start. Two rides for two winners.

"And especially with it being here at Flemington which is my favourite track in the whole world."

Both feature wins came for trainer Mark Kavanagh who has been a long-time supporter of Baster.

"I've always had a great affiliation with him," Kavanagh said.

"He won on Divine Madonna (in the 2004 Group One Emirates Stakes) and he won a maiden on Atlantic Jewel. Not many people get to do that."

Sheer Talent defeated Force Command by three-quarters of a length with Hosting half a head away third.

The Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) in two weeks is the logical next target for Sheer Talent, who had his spring campaign cut short last year after just one start.

"He got a bit of a virus and there is no good playing catch-up in the spring so we decided to stop straight away," Kavanagh said.

"He's always promised a bit and is starting to deliver now."

Kavanagh said Sheer Talent would be better again next start.

"The way the Guineas is looking right now, we'll make up our mind in another week or so which way we go," he said.

– AAP

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