Baker weaves a path to Guineas
Bjorn Baker is not taking up the opportunity to send Warwoven (Sword Of State) to Caulfield for Tuesday morning's traditional Guineas Week track gallops, but the star colt will continue his familiarisation with another strong workout the Melbourne way of going at home in Sydney.
The Golden Rose winner ramped up preparations for this Saturday's A$3 million Group One with his most serious gallop anti-clockwise last week and will have another in company at Warwick Farm on Tuesday.
All of Warwoven's eight starts have been 'right-handed', but Baker has immense belief in the son of Sword Of State and is confident he can also excel racing the other direction.
"He's fantastic, he's got a great attitude, he's really bombproof," he said.
"He had a nice gallop left-handed on Thursday, it wasn't about breaking the clock, not in his first proper gallop, and we will probably give him a mate on Tuesday and aim to do a bit more.
"But he's been very, very good."
Warwoven landed his maiden Group One win when he spanked his rivals by 3-1/4 lengths in the A$1 million Gr.1 Golden Rose (1400m) on September 26.
That was the first run at 1400m for the colt who has won the Gr.2 Run To The Rose and Gr.3 Pago Pago Stakes at 1200m and Baker's plans beyond Saturday indicate he thinks 1600m will not be an issue.
The Kiwi trainer is keen to take Warwoven to the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington on October 24 if performs up to expectations at Caulfield.
"You have to dream and that's what the race is about," Baker said when asked about the prospect of a Cox Plate start.
"His mother was a Group Two winner over 2000m.
"He relaxes really well and he can absorb pressure, which he showed last Saturday.
"It's one step at a time, we all know that, but if he goes to the Caulfield Guineas and goes as well as I hope he will I think we'll be able to go forward to the Cox Plate."
Caulfield Guineas barriers will be drawn just a few hours after Tuesday's trackwork session with the remainder of Saturday's fields, which include the Gr. 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and Gr.1 Might And Power (2000m) at elite level, will be finalised on Wednesday morning.
Warwoven is the clear headline act among the six winners so far sired by Cambridge Stud sire Sword Of State.
Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
