Bjorn Baker believes Warwoven (Sword Of State) is ideally placed to tackle the biggest assignment of his career in Saturday’s stallion-making feature, the Gr.1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill.

The son of Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State heads into the A$1 million three-year-old feature off an impressive victory in the Gr.2 Run To The Rose (1200m), and Baker has been delighted with his progress in the fortnight since.

While Guest House is expected to provide formidable opposition, Baker is concentrating on having Warwoven at his peak for his first test at Group One level.

“No doubt Guest House is a superstar horse, but you can’t really worry too much about the others,” Baker said.

“At the end of the day, I’m really happy with Warwoven.

“First-up he had to go back and last time he had to sit outside the leader. I think stepping up to 1400m really suits.

“His work on Tuesday was the best we’ve seen from him and he looks absolutely amazing.”

Warwoven will jump from barrier one with regular rider Rachel King in the saddle, having combined with the in-form hoop to win the Run To The Rose.

King made a decisive move that day, allowing Warwoven to stride forward and race outside the leader before the colt fought strongly to defeat St Gotthard.

“Rachel King is riding better than anyone at the moment and from gate one he’s got natural speed, so we’re going to have the option to lead or be right behind the speed,” Baker said.

“I’d back her to make the right decision.

“No doubt we’ll probably need a little bit of luck in running, but if he gets it from gate one, it is the most economical way home.”

The Golden Rose has attracted plenty of depth beyond Guest House, with Baker also wary of the Chris Waller-trained contingent.

“It’s not just Guest House. You’ve got the Waller four or five, including St Gotthard, and Tron Bolt is a really nice horse, amongst others,” Baker said.

“So it’s never an easy race to win, but I do think he’s very well set up. It’s been a smooth preparation and he looks great.

“He’s obviously a colt, so there’s a lot riding on it, and I’m really confident the 1400m will suit him.”

Warwoven has developed into one of the leading members of Sword Of State’s first crop, winning four of his seven starts and A$548,850 in prizemoney.

He showed his quality as a juvenile when winning the Gr.3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill before returning this spring to add the Run To The Rose to his record.

Warwoven is out of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, whose four victories included the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m).

The Golden Rose has developed into an important stallion-making race, with Zoustar, The Autumn Sun, Bivouac, Ole Kirk and Broadsiding among its recent winners to subsequently retire to stud.

Victory on Saturday would further enhance Warwoven’s future stallion prospects while providing Sword Of State, who stands at Cambridge Stud, with his first Group One winner. - NZ Racing Desk

Tuxedo primed for Howden Insurance Mile

Shaune Ritchie couldn’t be happier with race favourite Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) ahead of the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Hastings on Saturday.

The Group One performer was fifth when first up in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie three weeks ago and he has thrived since, enough for Ritchie to take him to Ellerslie last weekend for an exhibition gallop.

“He is going fantastic,” said Ritchie, who trains in partnership with Colm Murray. “We took him to Ellerslie for an exhibition gallop on Saturday, and you only do that with your horses when they are eating well enough, happy enough and having a play around the paddock enough to get rid of that bit of excess energy they are showing around the place.

“To have the luxury of being able to do that was ideal. He had a cruisy gallop up there with Opie (Bosson, jockey) on board and I would say both Tuxedo and his jockey will be much improved from the Proisir.”

Ritchie was pleased with Tuxedo’s performance in the Proisir Plate and said he has taken plenty of improvement from that run.

“He ran fifth in the Proisir Plate and I think he is looking for the mile now and perhaps even further down the track,” he said. “At this point, the mile is really going to suit. I felt that Well Written (winner) looked superb, she had her summer coat through, and she clearly looked the best in the bird cage, and she performed as such. Our horse still had half of his winter coat there and he was still coming through, and I think you will find a much fitter and better looking and shinier coat, and a more complete Tuxedo on Saturday when he walks around the birdcage.”

Tuxedo currently heads the TAB’s market for the Howden Insurance Mile at $3.90, with last year’s winner Waitak the second elect at $5.50, and She’s A Dealer and First Five at $6.

A day prior at Te Rapa, Ritchie is hoping race caller George Simon is calling his filly, The Sweetest Song, to victory in the Henley Park 1200.

Bred and raced by Simon and his wife, Maryanne, The Sweetest Song is by Ribchester and out of Sweet Inspiration, a half-sister to triple Group One winner and now sire Turn Me Loose.

She made the perfect start to her career when winning on debut at Cambridge a fortnight ago, and Ritchie is looking forward to testing her talent against a strong line-up on Friday, which includes Group Three performer Shalabiya and stakes performers Belle Rebelle and Phillyjean.

“She is up against it, but she has got the draw (2) to show us what she has got, she is the unknown in the race,” he said. “You don’t often come off a poly win and beat some of the better three-year-old fillies. But it is tough for the three-year-old fillies because you go to a (rating) 65 (race) or you have got to take them on at some point.

“We have got the barrier to see whether she has got the goods or not and we will address racing after that performance. I thought 10-1 was about the right price for her.”

Ritchie will head to Te Rapa with three other runners, including exciting colt Top Marks, who will contest the Lodge Real Estate 1400.

“He is a St Mark's Basilica out of Savaria, who won an Oaks for Roydon Bergerson,” Ritchie said. “He is a magnificent animal, he is almost the perfect specimen because he is strong without being heavy. I am not suggesting that he will win tomorrow, he has still got to get the barrier right, he can be a little sluggish out of the gates, but he will attack the line. I think he is a good horse in the making when they get up over a little further.”

Meanwhile, Group One performer Tajana will head to Hawera next week for the Gr.3 Grangewilliam Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) following her first-up placing over 1300m at Ellerslie at the start of the month, while promising filly Summer Schemer has gone to the spelling paddock following her unplaced run in the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (1200m).

“Tajana is going fantastic, she is working great,” Ritchie said. “She is going to Hawera for the Breeders’ Stakes next week and that will be a nice race for her. Sam McNab, who rode her at Ellerslie, will take the booking. I felt she just hit the wall a little bit in the last 100m and probably cost her the win last time, so that will clean her right up and the month between races she should be spot on for Hawera.

“Summer Schemer has gone to the paddock. She disappointed last time so she has gone out for a month to just reset. She is another one who had a strong winter coat. She may be a better autumn filly than a spring filly, but having said that, we will try her over summer.” - Joshua Smith

Fortunate Son continues winning roll at Happy Valley

New Zealand-bred gelding Fortunate Son (NZ) (US Navy Flag) continued his outstanding start to the new Hong Kong season with a second consecutive victory at Happy Valley on Wednesday night.

The Cody Mo-trained six-year-old made it two wins from as many starts this campaign when successful in the Class 3 Tai Hang Handicap (1800m), with Vincent Ho guiding him to his fourth Hong Kong victory.

The win also propelled Fortunate Son to the top of the DBS x Manulife Million Challenge with 30 points. The series offers a HK$1 million bonus to the best-performed horse in Class 3 races or above at Happy Valley through to February 17.

A son of U S Navy Flag and the Pins mare Pinstripe, Fortunate Son was bred in New Zealand and offered by Curraghmore at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale, where he was purchased by Aspen Thoroughbreds for $70,000.

He won two races in New Zealand for Andrew Forsman before being sold to Hong Kong. 

Fortunate Son has developed into a particularly effective performer around Happy Valley and entered Wednesday's race off an impressive victory over 1650m at the city circuit earlier this month.

Mo indicated the lucrative Million Challenge could now shape the gelding's programme through the coming months.

“I will just see the program first. The horse is more mature this season. If he has a smooth run with not much pressure, he can finish strong,” Mo said.

“I’ll have to see how many rating points he gets and if he is still in Class 3, then we can make some further planning. The focus is still on Happy Valley.”

Fortunate Son's victory completed a productive night for New Zealand-breds at Happy Valley, with Happy Smile (NZ) (Hellbent) and Danica's Choice (NZ) (Swiss Ace) also successful.

The Jamie Richards-trained Happy Smile produced a strong finish to claim the Class 4 Hong Kong Country Club Challenge Cup Handicap (1650m) under Derek Leung.

The New Zealand-bred son of Hellbent and Savabeel mare Fibbers was recording his first Hong Kong victory. Bred by Monovale Stud, the gelding was sold by Riversley Park to Pertab Racing for $100,000 as a yearling before being on-sold as at the NZB Ready To Run Sale for $150,000. 

Danica's Choice continued his excellent Happy Valley form with victory in the first section of the Class 3 Mount Butler Handicap (1200m).

Ridden by Andrea Atzeni for trainer Manfred Man, the New Zealand-bred son of Swiss Ace and Snowfall scored by 1¾ lengths and continued a strong sequence at the city circuit, having won over the same course and distance in June before finishing runner-up in July.

Danica's Choice was bred by Gerry Harvey and won at Te Aroha for Annabelle Johnson when known as Mallister, prior to his export to Hong Kong.  - NZ Racing Desk

Beast building nicely towards New Zealand Cup

New Zealand Cup contender Unleash The Beast (NZ) (Eminent) continues to surprise trainer Kenny Moore as the progressive stayer builds towards his major spring target at Riccarton. The Rangiora-trained five-year-old has provided Moore and his connections with his share of challenges during his 24-start career, but

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Galvin fondly recalls Melody Belle’s Triple Crown domination

With the return of the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) to Hastings on Saturday, Fortuna Racing’s John Galvin can’t help but reminisce about his former star mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and her three-peat in the race. The daughter of Commands had a love affair with

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