Baker in incredible Millions rise

Saturday 11 January 2014, 5:56pm

Bjorn Baker has come a long way since he scraped together $80 to back Testa Rossa to win the 1999 Magic Millions Classic.

The trainer was on Saturday the toast of the Australasian racing world when his colt Unencumbered won the $2 million feature at the Gold Coast.

However, Baker could not help but reflect on his first Magic Millions experience in 1999.

"I was studying at the Otago University and working on Waikato Stud 15 years ago and visited the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions," Baker said.

"I managed to get $80 and had it on the winner Testa Rossa.

"Here I am today having trained the winner who is sired by Testa Rossa - incredible."

Unencumbered's victory was a great training performance by Baker.

The colt has been in work since last year and the Classic win is his fifth from six starts.

Meanwhile, second placegetter Oakleigh Girl has picked up an extra $325,000 for her connections as part of a bonus system to take her earnings from the race to $625,000.

The Magic Millions company has a promotion for the first four horses across the line who are owned exclusively by women.

Oakleigh Girl's connections were the biggest beneficiaries while third placegetter Ruby Soho picked up a $100,000 bonus, sixth-placed Sagatona collected $50,000 and Pinch River (13th) earned an extra $25,000.

– AAP

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