MURRAY BAKER



Murray Baker has been one of New Zealand's leading trainers for many years. In that time he has won well over 150 stakes races.

Murray began training in the mid 1980's in Woodville, New Zealand. He was quick to produce a good horse with Wellington Derby and New Zealand St Leger winner Sir Vigilant. 

In 2000 Murray decided to relocate to Cambridge and once again was quick to produce big results with Prized Gem winning the Brisbane Cup and Kelt Capital Stakes in 2002. She would end up producing Nom Du Jeu who would win an Australian Derby for Baker (in partnership with his son Bjorn) and he has won that very race four times.

He is one of the few New Zealand trainers to not only train a Group 1 winner in New Zealand, but also four states of Australia (VIC, NSW, SA and QLD).

They also had Lion Tamer win the Victoria Derby for the stable in 2010 and Murray became one of the few trainers to train the winner of both the AJC and VRC Derby.
 
In recent years, with Bjorn Baker branching out by himself, Murray joined forces with Andrew Forsman, him having worked with the stable for a long time as foreman.

The pair has had good success since that time saddling up multiple Group 1 winners including Bonneval and Jon Snow.

First Runner :
04 Aug 1982   Hastings (Nz)
Barnsdale Mdn   Viskan (Nz)
First Win :
18 Dec 1982   Awapuni (Nz)
University Hcp (1Flatwin)   Tirpitz (Nz)
Best Horse :
MY EAGLE EYE (Timeform Rating 120)
GROSVENOR (NZ) OGLE (NZ) [by WANDERING EYES (IRE)]
Prize Money :

Australia

AUD $4,137,329

New Zealand

NZD $7,044,254

Wins
422 (14.13 %)

G1

G2

G3

LR

15

13

13

12

PLACES
681 (36.94 %)

G1

G2

G3

LR

26

12

21

34

Starts
2986

G1

G2

G3

LR

150

92

114

137

Latest Winners

3 of 8, 28 Feb 2009, R4 CADBURY FIREBALL QLTY 1100m | AUD $100,750 | 58.5kg | H: FULLY FLEDGED | J: C W BROWN | | 1:03.49 | Winner: COURT
3 of 14, 26 Jul 2008, R7 MCSKIMMING SHEARING LTD HCP 80 1400m | NZD $ 30,000 | 55.5kg | H: WHO'S ASKING | J: L G INNES | | 1:29.97 | Winner: ORIENTAL LAD
3 of 12, 25 Jul 2008, R4 MOUNT WRECKING HCP (70) 2170m | NZD $ 7,500 | 61.0kg | H: KILLA LOOX | J: P BOYLAN | | 2:22.21 | Winner: OUR CASHMAN