Fearless Baker hopes to excel

George Baker will have his first Group runner after four months with a licence when Excellerator lines up for the Princess Margaret Independent Newspaper Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.

The fledgling handler is relishing the prospect of the daughter of Exceed And Excel racing in Pattern company, and believes his impressive Southwell winner will not be disgraced.

After landing something of a gamble on her debut, the juvenile suffered a troubled passage on her only start since when beaten a short head and a head behind subsequent winner Rosabee at Doncaster.

“I am certainly not afraid of taking the winner on again, and I don’t think she will be disgraced,” said Baker.

“It is very exciting, and if someone had told me in March that I would be having a Group runner in July then I would have fallen over backwards.

“She won well on her debut and won a few people some money, and then wasn’t beaten far at Doncaster.

“I do think she was a little unlucky not to win that day, but she was brave and gutsy and has improved for the race.”