The Bjorn Baker-trained Unencumbered is the horse for serious money in early trading for April’s Golden Slipper Stakes at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney, the world’s most valuable juvenile contest, following a tremendous success in the Magic Millions on the Gold Coast on January 11.

Although there’s plenty of water sure to flow under the bridge for the runners for the showcase 1200m contest at Rosehill, one of the biggest races on the Australian calendar, there’s little doubt there is growing confidence behind the chance of Unencumbered, an impressive looking son of Testa Rossa.

Rosehill had done everything right at Doomben just before the turn of the year when landing the Group 3 McGrath Estates Agents BJ McLachlan Stakes over 1200m.

Sent to contest the Magic Millions by former New Zealand-based handler, Baker, the Nathan Berry ridden $3.2 favourite was brought with a perfectly timed run to beat the gutsy Oakleigh Girl by three-quarters-of-a-length, with Ruby Soho over two lengths away back in third in a contest that brought the Gold Coast crowd to their feet.

This biggest win of his riding career could well be just a prelude to even better to come for Berry on the tremendously speedy Unencumbered, who has been slashed from as big as 15 to a general offer of just 8 and is second-favourite in the racing betting behind the Peter Snowden-trained Earthquake (5).

Earthquake, by leading sire, Exceed and Excel, made a sparkling debut in Sydney in November and has done nothing since to suggest he is going to be anything other than a smart performer in the months ahead. Others prominent in the racing live betting for the big race include Fighting Sun, Risen From Doubt, and Rubick, all of whom are priced up at around the $12 mark.