Warwoven primed for Golden Rose test
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.
