Baker’s bridesmaid in prime position for Golden Eagle boilover

Craig Kerry

October 29, 2026 — 3:12pm

Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker hopes a kind draw can prove the difference for perennial bridesmaid Within The Law when she looks to build off an impressive Silver Eagle finish in the $10 million Golden Eagle.

Within The Law’s three career wins came across her first starts; in the Inglis Banner, Nursery and group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes. She fell next time out in the Golden Slipper before placings in the Percy Sykes, Silver Shadow, Champagne and Flight Stakes, as well as the Fred Best and Gunsynd Classics.

Baker tested her Golden Eagle credentials first-up in the 1300m Silver Eagle, where she surged down the inside to finish less than a length away in fifth on a day jockeys were avoiding that part of the track.

Drawn in gate seven that day, Within The Law has barrier three for the Golden Eagle, where Rachel King rides the $34 hope.

Baker, who was unlucky in the Golden Eagle with Stefi Magnetica in 2024, hoped the fast-finisher could defy the odds.

“It’s a tough race, but she was really good first up,” Baker said.

“It’s the sort of race you need a little bit of luck in, and we were hoping for that and the key was that she’s drawn a gate. That’s a big help.

“She’s been a great horse. At the end of the day, she’s won nearly $2 million, is a group 2 winner and is often thereabouts. Second in the Flight Stakes and the Champagne, so we know she’s good around that mile mark at Randwick, and she had a bit of residual fitness from Brisbane.

“It’s a tough race, we’re under no illusions, but they will go quick enough to give her a chance.”

Baker also has Pericles and Caballus set to contest the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m).

Caballus, a surprise call-up for the Everest, was two and a half lengths away in seventh in the $20 million race last start as a $151 outsider. He was $12 for Saturday after drawing gate one.

Pericles, who was also an acceptor at Flemington, appeared likely to run at Randwick. He was $18 from gate two after finishing two and a quarter lengths off last time out in the Everest consolation race.

“Both of them have got good gates and they are both going really well,” Baker said.

“Caballus was excellent in the Everest and with any luck he might have finished a bit closer. The key is we’ve got a really good gate, gate one, good track. I think he’s definitely a live chance.

“And if Pericles goes there, he’s definitely not out of it. His run in the Sydney Stakes was excellent after having to cover a heap of ground. He looks fantastic now.”

At Flemington, Baker hoped Paradoxium ($17) could bounce back in the group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) after a fading fourth in the Roman Consul Stakes.

“He probably overdid it, but he still ran a good race. Fourth in a group 2 and it’s a good form race to go to the Coolmore,” he said.

“He’s a lovely colt and we’ve been thrilled with him since. He’s done everything really well and he’s not out of it.”

Baker, meanwhile, was into the Melbourne Cup with So You Are on Thursday after he received a one-kilogram penalty for Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup win.

The penalty lifted So You Are to 24th in the order of entry after Ciaron Maher-trained Saint George failed its mandatory scan. Tulloch Lodge’s The Euphrates was also ahead in the order but co-trainer Adrian Bott confirmed he was not racing on after 10ths in the Geelong and Bendigo Cups.

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