Clarke Bloodstock purchases Unleeshing and Pillow Fight filled the first two placings in the Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick, giving trainer Bjorn Baker the quinella in one of the feature races on Everest day.
Ridden by Jason Collett, Unleeshing came from near last to run down her gallant stablemate, Pillow Fight, and win by three-quarters of a length. Pillow Fight, ridden by Jamie Melham, had kicked clear at the top of the straight and was incredibly game to hold on for second. Vivy Air, the race favourite, ran third a length and a quarter away.
Both Unleeshing and Pillow Fight were selected by Clarke Bloodstock for the Bjorn Baker stable.
Unleeshing was an $80,000 purchase at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, bought with Damon Gabbedy and MyRacehorse, while Pillow Fight was a $375,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Cunningham Thoroughbreds and Bjorn Baker Racing clients.
The Angst Stakes was a first stakes win for Unleeshing, a five-year-old daughter of Dundeel.
Baker credited the patience of Unleeshing’s ownership group.
“We’ve always had a lot of time for her (Unleeshing) and the owners have had to be patient because it all hasn’t been smooth sailing, and I’m thankful for that,” Baker said. “Her best is still ahead of her.”
Pillow Fight’s second adds another Group placing to her record, and Baker believes a stakes win is not far away.
“She kept in the fight and keeps improving, so we’re very lucky to have two good mares on a special day like today,” he said.
Both mares are entered for the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington this Saturday. A top 3 finish in the Group 1 would add significantly to their racing and breeding value.
