Bjorn Baker: From pharmacist to Group 1 trainer

Bjorn Baker has made a name for himself training in Sydney. Picture: Jeremy Ng—Getty Images.

Every Wednesday over the spring carnival, Racenet will feature prominent racing identities to learn a bit more about their background and how they tick. We kick off by featuring popular trainer BJORN BAKER.

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Bjorn Baker grew up as a kid picking out punters in the line to put bets on for him with the bookies, but those bets pale in comparison to the biggest one of his career — becoming a trainer.

Growing up under his Group 1-winning father Murray in New Zealand, Baker was always keen to get away from racing and even studied to become a pharmacist at university, before the lure of horses eventually brought him back.

Baker admits it wasn't the love of the horse that initially attracted him to the sport as a kid, but more the gambling side of it, before learning the tricks of the trade when in partnership with his father.

"My sister always used to ride, so when I was three years old I jumped on a shetland pony called Misty and got bucked off it — I didn't get back on for a long time," Baker laughed.

"I wasn't so much interested in the horses, more the gambling side of it.

"Where I grew up has good racing history, I used to go to school with Stephen Marsh, he was a year younger than me and then Trent Busuttin is from the same area, his dad was a trainer too."

While he worked in the stables as a kid, Baker admits his mind was elsewhere most of the time, before leaving home to study.

"When I got old enough, I used to have to get the horses into the paddocks, which I tried to avoid as much as I could, especially when it came to mucking out," he said.

Bjorn Baker has established himself successfully in Sydney as a leading trainer. Picture: Richard Dobson.

"When I was in high school, I was working on the weekends and school holidays, the track was about 1km away from the stables, so I'd wait for my father to go to the track, then I'd duck back to bed.

"I used to love going to the races, we were punting from a young age, my mates and I would pick someone from the queue to put a bet on for us.

"I had travelled around Australia, I was in Sydney for three years as a pharmacist, then I met my now wife (Andrea) and we had a couple of years in London and a couple of years in Dublin, then we went back to New Zealand and thought I'd work part time (as a pharmacist).

"Then I got involved with the stables, I did three years in partnership before coming to Sydney."

Baker won four Group 1's in partnership with his father, before landing three on his own as a trainer in Sydney, along with high-profile victories in the Magic Millions and The Quokka.

"Nom De Jue winning the (2008 ATC) Derby is right up there, it was the first horse I travelled to Aussie with my old man, it gave me the belief that it was all possible," Baker said.

QUICKFIRE Q&A

Best horse you have seen? Winx

Favourite food? I'm on a special See-food diet, I see food and eat it.

Most annoying trainer? Murray Baker, he has an opinion on everything and should re take out his license. Most annoying current trainer is Chris Waller, unfortunately I have been Jonah Lomu-ed by him for the 10 years I have been in Sydney.

Most annoying jockey? I had a love-hate relationship with Brenton Avdulla, since he's been in Hong Kong, it is all love.

What are you watching on Netflix? Pain Killer at the moment, it relates to my failed career (as a pharmacist).

Three people to have dinner with? Not sure but they have to be fun.