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Bjorn Baker‘s young comeback king Paradoxium has shot to the top of Golden Slipper betting after a courageous effort to salute for the punters in Saturday’s 2026 Todman Stakes results at Randwick.

The progressive Extreme Choice colt was a big three-length winner of the Wyong Magic Millions Classic back in December but was forced out of the $3 million Gold Coast feature after falling ill up in Queensland.

Nursed back to health and well supported for his return in the Group 2 $300,000 Todman Stakes (1200m), Paradoxium bounced back a winner leading all-the-way off a perfectly rated ride by Jason Collett to book his ticket into the Group 1 $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill on March 21.

“Full credit to all my team, particularly my vet, Alan Froggley, and the vets who looked after him up in Queensland,” Baker told Sky Thoroughbred Central after Saturday’s victory.

“He got very, very sick, very fast and for him to get back here and do that is pretty special.”

Showing he’d taken no long-term harm from his earlier illness, Paradoxium ($2.60F) jumped cleanly from gate five to hit the front and lead from barrier to box defeating Stretan Ruler by 1.43 lengths with Wolf Gap third.

“He had a gallop a couple of weeks ago and went as good as ever. Probably his trial the other day as well,” Baker said.

“You always hope there is improvement, and us trainers say there’s improvement, we’re just hoping too. I do think there is genuine improvement going into the Slipper in two weeks.”

Giving the local Sydney contingent a winning hope in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds, Paradoxium has shot to the top of futures Golden Slipper betting at Ladbrokes.com.au firming in from $51 to $5.

“He’s pretty special and I know you have to look at times and analyse it, and maybe it’s not quite the (best) time,” Baker added.

“But he is going to improve so much. He’s got the best constitution, he’s got a great pedigree and a great bunch of owners, so very lucky to have him, and very lucky to have him back where he is at the moment too.”

Farnan (2020) was the last horse to complete the Todman Stakes / Golden Slipper double, and Baker is confident he has a colt with the right traits to potentially be the next in two weeks’ time.

“Speed, speed, speed. That’s what we breed for in Australia. Fast, strong, tough horses,” he said.

“I’ll tell you what, he’s fast and tough and hopefully we’ll find out how strong he is in a couple of weeks.”

Collett is also confident Paradoxium will make his presence felt in the Slipper.

“I would’ve loved to have won on him in the Magic Millions, but we got more confidence off today after doing that. He has come back and he’s well so that’s really encouraging,” he said.

“Credit to Bjorn (Baker) and his team and his vet. A horse that has had travel sickness, I didn’t know a lot about it beforehand. I thought ‘well, that’s our chance of winning a Millions or even a Slipper out the window.’ To be here today, that’s all due to them.

“I did give it easy the first half of the race (today) so that created a sprint home which is what I’ve got up my sleeve.

“I’ve got a very good turn of foot and was able to change legs and get over the rise. I thought ‘well, it’s only fitness that will get me late’.”

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