Warwoven delivers Golden Rose glory for Sword Of State

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has sired his first Group One winner in one of Australia’s most coveted races, courtesy of a brilliant performance by first-crop colt Warwoven in the A$1 million Yulong Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The Golden Rose has earned a reputation as a stallion-making race with a roll of honour that includes the likes of Zoustar, The Autumn Sun, Bivouac, Ole Kirk and Broadsiding. Now Warwoven has put himself on that same valuable path.

The Bjorn Baker-trained colt went into Saturday’s spring showpiece as the winner of four of his seven starts, including a convincing last-start success in the Gr.2 Run to the Rose (1200m).

The Golden Rose was expected to be a much more daunting assignment, but Warwoven rose to the occasion and blew his opponents away.

Ridden as usual by Rachel King, Warwoven settled in fourth on the rail and was stuck in a pocket coming around the home turn.

King found an opening and angled Warwoven into clear air with 300m to run, and the colt burst to the front with a breathtaking turn of foot. He streaked clear to win by three lengths from St Gotthard (Snitzel) and Under Focus (Too Darn Hot).

“He was dominant,” King said. “He’s very good, we know he’s very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that today.

“I was a little bit worried when we were stuck back on the fence. I thought we’d either be leading or on the leader’s back.

“But he’s a very good horse. There was enough tempo on. There was enough pressure. He just put his head down and relaxed and was beautiful in the run.

“We know he’s got an awesome turn of foot, and I was desperate to get him up over this kind of distance and probably even further. He’s proven that he’s the real deal today.”

Warwoven’s eight-race career has now produced five wins and A$1.16 million in stakes.

“This is very special,” Baker said. “I thought he paraded superbly. He’s so good-looking. He’s so fast. I don’t even have to sell him, he sold himself. So many of my great friends are in this horse, and you saw an amazing performance today.

“A lot of form analysts out there, you are allowed your own opinion, that is what makes our game so great. But I thought this colt was right in it.

“He’s a serious horse and now we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas (Gr.1, 1600m). Even the Cox Plate (Gr.1, 2040m). His mother was very good at 2000m, and he relaxed beautifully today. But one step at a time. It is an amazing game, racing. It is the best game in the world and I don’t say that lightly.

“He’s a colt, so he’ll be a stallion now.”

Warwoven is the clear headline act among the six 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).