Baker sets sights on big pay day for Excellerator

George Baker is looking towards a potentially big payday for Excellerator in Thursday’s £250,000 (€315,500) Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket.

Third in the Princess Margaret Stakes as the Warwickshire trainer’s first Group runner, she initially looked to have put in a disappointing follow-up effort at Chester when caught on the line by Aspen Darlin.

But Alan Bailey’s runner subsequently bolted up in an Ayr Group Three and is is likely to be upped to top company next.

Baker has a handful entered in the race but by far the leading fancy is Excellerator, who was put through her paces at Wolverhampton on Saturday morning.

“We worked six horses over a variety of trips. Remarkably, there was not one disappointment amongst the sextet, the most nerve-wracking moment being watching Excellerator do her final proper piece ahead of Newmarket next Thursday,” Baker wrote on his website.

“She remains in great heart – and we are all looking nervously to the westward skies, hoping and praying that the forecast for a reasonably settled week is on the nail.”

Daragh O’Donohoe has been booked to ride Excellerator at Headquarters.