An Australian debut win over an unsuitable distance has filled the Baker stable with confidence ahead of Lion Tamer's main spring missions.The Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained colt finished strongly to win the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) but was always expected to improve with distance, starting with Saturday's Gloaming Stakes (1800m).The New Zealander is currently joint favourite for the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 2 and will put his credentials for tha

An Australian debut win over an unsuitable distance has filled the Baker stable with confidence ahead of Lion Tamer's main spring missions.

The Murray and Bjorn Baker-trained colt finished strongly to win the Listed Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) but was always expected to improve with distance, starting with Saturday's Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

The New Zealander is currently joint favourite for the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 2 and will put his credentials for that race on the line at Rosehill.

"The main concern the other day is that it's always hard taking horses to Australia thinking you're going to be competitive," Bjorn Baker said.

"With us we've had success at 2000 metres plus (in Australia) because the further you go up in distance the racing tends to drop out a bit.

"Going to the races we know once it gets over more ground we're going to be more competitive."

The Bakers won the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) with Nom De Jeu in 2008 and finished second with Harris Tweed the following year a week after he won the Group Two Tulloch Stakes (2000m).

Lion Tamer made his debut several months earlier in his two-year-old season than both those gallopers and that has translated into him making his first trans-Tasman trip half a season earlier than that pair as well.

"They were a little bit later than this bloke," Baker said.

"He had his first start as a two-year-old in a stakes race in November, missed the jump by five and ran past them all to win.

"We've always had a big opinion of him and thought he would stay."

Baker believes Lion Tamer's ability to relax in his races is the biggest pointer towards him remaining ultra-competitive for the remainder of the spring three-year-old staying features.

"He's a lovely, relaxed horse, he does switch off and he's got a sprint," he said.

"If he can switch off and then sprint then he's going to be competitive."

Lion Tamer won three from six in New Zealand including victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) in April.

He is one of 17 three-year-olds nominated for the Gloaming including Ming Dynasty Quality runner-up Praecido who shares Spring Champion favouritism with Lion Tamer.

The Bakers also have Harris Tweed and three-year-old Mackadoo in Melbourne.

Mackadoo finished seventh, beaten almost five lengths, in his first Australian start in the Listed Henry Bucks (1400m) at Flemington and is expected to improve in the 3YO Handicap (1700m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

"He's probably going to be better the further he goes, it depends on how he goes on Saturday but he'll be nominated for the VRC (Victoria) Derby and that's what we've got in the back of our minds," Baker said.