New Zealander Bakup will make a hit-and run raid on Saturday's VRC St Leger Stakes which father and son co-trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker hope will form a leg of a winning two-state big-race double for the stable.Bakup will arrive in Melbourne on Wednesday night for the 2800m Flemington feature while stablemate Mr Tipsy will contest Saturday's Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick."How good would that be if we could win both races?" Bjorn Baker said.The stable has already had a successful autumn carni

New Zealander Bakup will make a hit-and run raid on Saturday's VRC St Leger Stakes which father and son co-trainers Murray and Bjorn Baker hope will form a leg of a winning two-state big-race double for the stable.

Bakup will arrive in Melbourne on Wednesday night for the 2800m Flemington feature while stablemate Mr Tipsy will contest Saturday's Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick.

"How good would that be if we could win both races?" Bjorn Baker said.

The stable has already had a successful autumn carnival with Harris Tweed who is now spelling after winning the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and finishing second in a photo-finish to Roman Emperor in the AJC Australian Derby.

A decision to target the St Leger with Bakup was made after he beat Booming over 2500 metres at Hastings last Saturday.

Baker said it was strong form as Booming (third) finished ahead of Harris Tweed (fourth) in last month's New Zealand St Leger (2500m).

Bakup has won three of his 15 starts and has developed as a stayer, winning two of his last three runs.

"He has come right at the right time," Baker said.

"His win last Saturday was particularly good as he did a bit of work circling the field from the 1000 metres and just kept going."

Baker said the extra distance would again be in favour of Bakup who has a stout pedigree.

His sire Kilimanjaro was the early favourite for the English Derby before he was galloped on and later prematurely retired to stud after finishing second in the Group Two King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Bakup's grand-dam Daria's Fun won 12 races including the 1988 Wellington Cup (3200m) in Australasian record time and produced 2004 New Zealand Cup winner Waltermitty in an otherwise disappointing return from the breeding barn.

Baker said the St Leger was a chance for Bakup to enhance the family line and qualify for the Melbourne Cup.

If successful he would join Harris Tweed and another stablemate, 2008 AJC Australian Derby winner and Caulfield Cup runner-up Nom Du Jeu, on the Cups trail next spring.

"He is going well so we thought when this race (the St Leger) popped up that we may as well strike while the iron's hot," Baker said.

"The big track at Flemington will suit him down to the ground."

Apprentice Nicholas Hall, who only last week reached an important milestone in his career when he outrode his metropolitan allowance with his 80th city winner, returns from suspension to ride Bakup in the St Leger.

Mr Tipsy is third favourite for the Sydney Cup after finishing second in last month's Auckland Cup (3200m) and fifth in The BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 4.

He drops 7.5kg to 51kg in the Cup and Corey Brown replaces Michael Rodd on the gelding.