Warwoven completes big Group One double

Sword Of State colt Warwoven has gone back-to-back in two of Australia’s most prestigious three-year-old races, adding the A$3 million Gr.1 Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas (1600m) to his last-start success in the Gr.1 Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven was a stunning three-length winner of the Golden Rose on September 26, instantly commanding the attention of studs across Australia. On Saturday his profile soared even higher as he joined In Top Swing (2003), The Autumn Sun (2018) and Ole Kirk (2020) as the fourth horse to complete the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double.

The Caulfield Guineas was Warwoven’s first mission to Melbourne, making his first start left-handed and stepping up to 1600m for the first time. Among those standing in his way was the New Zealand-bred Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High), who had confirmed his place at the top of the pecking order among Melbourne’s three-year-olds with dominant victories in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) and Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

After proving to be a handful on the way to the start, Warwoven settled into a smooth rhythm for regular rider Rachel King in fifth place.

Blind Raise set the pace and was still full of running coming into the home turn, but King angled Warwoven to the outside at the top of the straight and put the leader in the crosshairs.

Warwoven moved through his gears and drew alongside Blind Raise, who to his credit kept fighting and kept lifting. But in the end Warwoven had too much class, edging ahead to beat the gallant Ace High gelding by a length and three-quarters. The third-placed Call Me Coach (Dundeel) was more than three lengths behind the first pair.

“He leaves me speechless, this horse,” King said. “He’s unbelievable.

“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 the 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.

“I've certainly never sat on a horse like this, and he’s pretty unbelievable.”

Warwoven has won six of his nine starts and A$2.98 million in stakes.

“It is a bit emotional, actually,” said Baker’s stable representative Luke Hilton. “There was a bit more pressure today. There was more excitement in Sydney, but there was a fair bit of pressure with him today.

“The race probably didn’t pan out how we thought. Incredible ride by Rachel, who had her wits about her. She knew what she had under her, and when she hadn’t moved on him on the corner, I thought he must be travelling well.

“He’s an outstanding colt. 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.

“Trent Busuttin’s horse (Blind Raise), he really fought hard, so it was a great win.

“Jim Clarke and the sales team have done a fantastic job. He’s by a first-season sire in Sword Of State, and they bought a beautiful colt.”

Warwoven is the clear headline act among the eight winners so far sired by Sword Of State, who commands a $50,000 service fee at Cambridge Stud.

Sword Of State was himself an elite juvenile, winning the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and earning New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old honours.

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).