Warwoven has further pressed his case as Australia’s premier colt following a brilliant win in Saturday’s $3 million Group 1 Caulfield Guineas.
The Bjorn Baker-trained star demonstrated that his dominant Golden Rose performance was no fluke, overcoming the best 1600-metre three-year-olds Victoria had to offer in his Melbourne debut.
He now joins the distinguished ranks of Ole Kirk and The Autumn Sun, both established stallions commanding substantial stud fees in the Hunter Valley, as horses to achieve the Golden Rose/Guineas double since the former attained Group 1 status in 2009.
Unlike his $6.50 third favourite position in the Golden Rose, Warwoven started the Guineas as the $2.40 favourite. Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton, who was present at Caulfield while Baker remained in Sydney, conveyed the relief associated with this latest success.
“It is a bit emotional, actually, there was a bit more pressure today,” Hilton stated. “There was more excitement in Sydney, but there was a fair bit of pressure with him today. Bjorn has said for a long time that he could be one of those special horses that don’t come around too often. He’s proving him right so far.”
Warwoven, a first-crop son of New Zealand stallion Sword Of State, was given a masterful ride by Rachel King, Hilton’s wife, securing their maiden Caulfield Guineas victories.
King took up a positive position from the start but allowed Warwoven to ease back into a midfield spot, one off the fence, after encountering more early pressure than anticipated, before making her decisive move around 500 metres from the finish.
Blind Raise ($3.10) attempted to challenge after kicking clear early in the straight, but Warwoven drew level at the 100-metre mark and surged clear to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Call Me Coach ($15) finished in third place, 3-1/4 lengths adrift of the winner.
“He leaves me speechless, this horse – he’s unbelievable,” King exclaimed. “There were a few question marks today; we didn’t know how he’d handle going this way around and Caulfield’s not an easy track to come to first time Melbourne way. But he’s just got so much class and he was still arrogant again. I know a lot of people said, ‘how can he peak again?’, but I don’t think he has peaked. I think there’s still more there.”
Warwoven remains a potential candidate for the $6 million Cox Plate (2040m), a race Baker had identified as a target for the colt if he successfully navigated his Guineas test. He is now the $5 third favourite for the October 24 feature event.
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