Bjorn Baker prepares Queensland winter carnival team as Iowna Merc secures slot in The Archer

Iowna Merc has stormed through the grades this year since winning the Listed Canterbury Sprint on New Year’s Day.

He also won the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) and Group 3 Liverpool City Cup, over The Archer run distance.

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“We are definitely excited to be given the opportunity to run in a race that has really grown since its inception in 2022,” Darby Racing’s principal Scott Darby said.

“Darby Racing has had a real affinity with slot races in their short history in the country, largely by the deeds of Overpass in The Quokka so to now have our first runner in The Archer is a big thrill for Iowna Merc’s owners and our business.”

Overpass will attempt to win a third Quokka next Saturday in Perth while Iowna Merc was snapped up by a group of Rockhampton locals, the In Deep Syndicate, and their spokesman Bryce Hanson said the Sydneysider was “as good as it got” on its short list.

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“We’re just a group of local racing lovers that are having a crack and we got lucky to land Iowna Merc,” Hanson said.

“We spoke to Derby and Bjorn and they were keen to have a go at it with Iowna Merc and as a group we couldn’t be happier.

“Bjorn looks like a bit of a larrikin and Iowna Merc’s probably going to be a short favourite in the race so it should be a great week.”

Baker has had an unrivalled start to the 2024/25 season, having already trained 125 winners, just three victories shy of his best season haul in 2019/20, with earnings of upwards of $23m.

The Warwick Farm-based trainer is coming off his best ever autumn having won the Doncaster Mile with last year’s Stradbroke Handicap heroine Stefi Magnetica and the Sydney Cup with Arapaho.

Other feature race winners for Baker this year include the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with O’ Ole, and Within The Law in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes.

In Sydney’s final two Group 1 races of the season on Saturday, Baker will saddle up Within The Law in the Champagne Stakes and Belclare in the All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick before the trainer’s focus switches to the Queensland winter carnival.

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“We’re planning to take a strong team, targeting most of the big races,” Baker said.

“Horses like Robusto and Iknowastar are on a Stradbroke path.

“I’m also looking to take Arriving Home up there, she’s a filly I’ve got a lot of time for.

“Namaste is a horse that could possibly go up for races like the Sires’ and the JJ Atkins and I’ve also got Alegron back.

“He had a screw put in a fetlock and he’ll go up and try to defend his Brisbane Cup crown.”

In black-type races this season, Baker’s gallopers have won 22 of their 100 race starts, three Group 1s, seven Group 2s, five Group 3s and seven Listed races.

Originally published as Bjorn Baker prepares Queensland winter carnival team as Iowna Merc secures slot in The Archer