Collateral’s damage surprises Bjorn Baker

While Bjorn Baker’s focus will be on the final Group One race of the season in Brisbane, the Sydney trainer has two in-form horses seeking to extend impressive winning streaks at Randwick.

Baker heads to Doomben on Saturday to watch Bonny O’Reilly and Egyptian Symbol attempt to upstage In Her Time in the $500,000 Tattersall’s Tiara but Test The World and Collateral won’t be far from his thoughts.

Classy filly Test The World is seeking her fifth successive win in the Schweppes Handicap (1400m), on the back-up from last weekend’s victory at Rosehill over 1200m.

Surprise packet Collateral will be out to extend his unbeaten sequence to four in a 2400m-benchmark race and is also on the seven-day back-up.

Baker said while Collateral, who was originally trained in Queensland, and Test The World did not have the profiles of his Tiara duo, the former had far exceeded his predictions.

“I must admit I didn’t have high expectations when he turned up. He’s really put his hand up,” Baker said.

“His run last week was super.”

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Collateral raced wide early from an outside barrier last Saturday and despite expending energy he still got the job done over 1800m, reeling in favourite Carzoff to score by a long neck.

Baker’s only query was whether Collateral could step up in distance in the shortest turnaround of his career.

“I’m a little bit concerned about him going up to 2400 but he’s had a run at 1900 and last week he had a good hit out as well,” he said.

“He’s sixth-up so I don’t have too many qualms about him on the back-up.”

Baker also had one reservation with Test The World’s ability to win again after she was lumped with 59.5kg, the second heaviest weight after the Kerry Parker-trained Heavenly Anna ($3).

“She’s got a bit more weight to contend with but you can’t knock winning form,” he said.

“One thing is she’s definitely looking for further. The 1400 at Randwick holds no problems for her.”