Baker confident Warwoven can rise to Rose challenge

Trainer Bjorn Baker is expecting a more prominent showing from Warwoven when the son of Sword Of State contests Saturday’s Gr.2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

Warwoven resumed with a fifth placing in the Gr.3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m), settling back from a wide barrier before producing the fastest final 600m of the race in 32.88 seconds.

Golden Slipper winner Guest House (Home Affairs) won the race in track-record time, while Warwoven made up more ground than any of his rivals in the closing stages.

“Initially I was probably a tad disappointed, but the way the track played, I thought he was pretty good overall,” Baker said.

“It was very hard to make any ground from the back. And of course, they ran a track-record time, and probably one of, if not the best colt in the country, won in Guest House.

“I thought he went well. I do think he’s improved and he looks fantastic.”

Warwoven, rated a $9 fourth favourite, will again be ridden by Rachel King and has drawn barrier seven.

“He’s got a better gate and second-up we will aim to be more positive,” Baker said.

Saturday’s Run To The Rose has attracted a strong field of three-year-olds, including unbeaten Chris Waller-trained colt St Gotthard (Snitzel) ($2.70) and the highly spruiked Central Europe (Frankel) ($5.50).

“No doubt there’s nowhere to hide. There are some really good horses in this race, and I hope that he’s one of them,” Baker said.

“But his work on Tuesday was very, very good.

“I’m confident. I think he can run really well and he’ll be much more forward than he was last time.”