The upcoming Magic Night Stakes and Pago Pago Stakes at Rosehill serve as the ultimate proving ground for juveniles like Warwoven chasing the last Golden Slipper entries.
As the 18th-ranked colt, Warwoven could leapfrog ahead with two anticipated late forfeits and guaranteed spots for the Saturday winners, leading Bjorn Baker to ensure participation.
Post a disputed vet scratch from the January Magic Millions Classic at Gold Coast due to lameness, the youngster secured close fourth in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
Baker, handler of Slipper co-favourite Paradoxium who took the Todman Stakes last weekend, foresees substantial enhancement in Warwoven.
“He is going to come on, no doubt about it,” Baker said.
“He’s probably even got a touch more improvement from where Paradoxium is at the moment.”
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott deploy four runners: By Choice and Lumbini for Tulloch Lodge in the fillies’ Magic Night Stakes (1200m), Plagiarism and Drumfire in the males’ Pago Pago Stakes (1200m).
By Choice remains competitive through four starts, highlighted by third in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), needing perfect race dynamics per Bott.
“She is going to appreciate high-pressure races, and appreciate a bit further in time,” Bott said.
“But she has been so honest throughout her career. She’s tough, she puts herself up on pace and she has drawn to do so again.”
Lumbini, hindered last time in the same race, promises better, though an emphatic success is essential for Slipper consideration.
Plagiarism has contended consistently across three races, fifth less than a length off Campione D’Italia in the Skyline Stakes (1200m).
“I’d like to think we’re seeing nice, gradual improvement from him at each stage of the prep and he’s another one, he’s on a path to give himself a potential opportunity to have a look at a Slipper,” Bott said.
“All those three would be outside the field at present and would need to be winning their way in, and we’d be wanting to see the right performance from them as well to be starting.”
Following an easy Muswellbrook debut win last Sunday, Drumfire tests himself promptly, with Bott supportive.
“It’s different form lines, and he is a really natural two-year-old type,” he said.
“He did it pretty easily at Muswellbrook and he’s open to nice improvement. He has pulled up really well and that gave us a chance to have a look at Saturday.”
Find the latest betting sites for Golden Slipper hopefuls at betting markets for the race.