George Baker warns of possible 'tsunami' as more owners target overseas riches

Trainer George Baker believes British racing needs to react quickly to owners looking further afield for a return on their investment, citing prize-money as the primary cause for such a move, which has helped lead to a decline in all-weather field sizes in recent months.

Baker is among five British-based trainers to saddle runners in Bahrain on Friday, with Dawaam contesting the £50,000 Al Riffa Cup (12.10) and La Maquina, who has a £50,000 target next month, running in a local contest at Sakhir worth £4,000. He described the winter trip as a “no-brainer”.

The targeting of overseas riches is nothing new for Baker, who won the Grosser Preis von St Moritz with Wargrave two years ago and also struck in France, Germany and Turkey, but he feels more connections will be enticed by better prize-money on offer elsewhere.