Baker/Forsman preparing for Melbourne

Murray Baker has prepared more Australian Group One winners than any other New Zealand-based trainer and is gearing up to do it again.

He and his training partner Andrew Forsman won the NZ premiership and came away with both Classics at the Sydney autumn carnival with Jon Snow winning the Australian Derby and Bonneval the Oaks.

The stablemates are on the second line of Caulfield Cup betting with Rosehill Guineas winner, Gingernuts, another New Zealander, equal favourite with Hartnell and Humidor.

Forsman said the Cox Plate was unlikely for either Jon Snow or Bonneval.

“While Winx is around the Cox Plate is very much a back-up plan,” Forsman told NZ Racing Desk.

Bonneval and Jon Snow are likely to be accompanied to Melbourne by Eleonora, Lizzie L’Amour and three-year- old Weather With You.

“It’s a bit week to week at the moment with the wet weather,” Forsman said. “They could fly out on either August 20 or 27.

“Bonneval is doing as well as she can and once she gets to Melbourne she will really improve.

“Jon Snow has strengthened up a lot. He has gone to another level. There’s no reason he can’t reach the heights of (2015 Caulfield Cup winner) Mongolian Khan.

“He is likely to resume in the Memsie Stakes.

“Bonneval will most likely kick off in the Dato Tan Chin Nam or the Makybe Diva the following week.”