The exceptional versatility of Warwoven is highlighted by trainer Bjorn Baker’s consideration of races across a wide spectrum of distances, even though contesting all three is not feasible. However, Warwoven’s commanding victory in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday was so outstanding that the colt now commands a $30 million valuation, empowering Baker to pursue ambitious goals.
“A lot of form analysts out there, you are allowed your own opinion, that is what makes our game so great,” Baker said.
“But I thought this colt was right in it, I didn’t want to look at the odds, I didn’t want to back him, there was too much riding on it.
“He’s a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), even the Cox Plate (2040m) – team get on now, we will get overs.
“His mother was very good at 2000m, he relaxed beautifully today but one step at a time.”
Away from the spotlight, Baker adopted a more reserved stance, not entirely dismissing the possibility of a start in The Everest (1200m).
“I would say The Everest is doubtful but we will see what happens,” Baker said.
“When you have a colt this good, you have to consider all the options.”
Baker shared that he has experienced the highs and lows of racing with Warwoven throughout the year.
“It is an amazing game, racing,” Baker said. “It is the best game in the world and I don’t say that lightly.
“We were in the hurt locker about January 14 when he was scratched from the Magic Millions on the morning of (the race).
“But you don’t panic, you have great people around you, they pick you up and you can be here and win a Group 1 – he’s a stallion now.”
In one of the most dominant performances in the history of the Golden Rose, Warwoven ($6), expertly ridden by Rachel King, surged clear to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths. St Gotthard ($3.70) secured second place, with Under Focus ($12) finishing a half head behind in third.
The favourite, Golden Slipper winner Guest House ($2.45), could only manage sixth after an incident mid-race with the runner-up, finishing behind Tenenbaum (fourth) and Tron Bolt (fifth).
Zac Lloyd, the jockey aboard Guest House, indicated that the encounter with St Gotthard compromised his colt’s chances of victory.
“The first half of the race went alright and we got onto the back of Warwoven which I thought was a good play,” Lloyd said.
“Then just when the pace dropped out of the race around the side, he got a bit keen on the heels of Warwoven, then we had a little bump with St Gotthard and it took a bit of ‘gas’ out of him.”
However, the spotlight remained firmly on Warwoven, who appeared to be in a race of his own in the final 300 metres of the Golden Rose.
“He was (dominant), he’s very good, but we know he’s very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that today,” King said.
“I thought I’d either be leading or the leader’s back. It’s difficult when your husband (Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton) gives you part of the instructions, and he says, ‘whatever you do, don’t be three-back the fence’ and I was like, I’m testing him a little bit here’.
“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.”
King’s victory aboard Warwoven completed a stakes race double for the Baker stable, following her earlier win on So You Are in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).
For Baker, it was a triumphant afternoon, securing a stakes race treble that included wins from So You Are and Blue Door in the Group 3 Heritage Stakes, in addition to Warwoven’s prestigious Group 1 Golden Rose triumph.
“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.
“Rachel King, she’s got ice in her veins. She summed it up so well.
“All my team back at home, they are amazing to work with and we have fun every day.
“We go through the losses as a team, we take the wins as a team and I can tell you it is a pretty big team today.”
James McDonald, who rode the Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard, described his colt’s powerful finish for second as “outstanding.”
“The interference at the 800m, it was no one’s fault, it was just the horse came out when over-racing and took the wind out of me,” McDonald said.
“He never really recovered after that so for him to box on and run second like that was incredible. If I had the winner’s run I would have given the race a shake.”
Racing NSW stewards issued McDonald a reprimand for his involvement in the bumping incident between St Gotthard and Guest House.
The Kris Lees-trained Under Focus demonstrated resilience in securing third place, reinforcing his status as a colt with considerable potential.
“Under Focus is still very raw but, gee, he travelled well at the top of the lane,” jockey Dylan Gibbons said.
“I was surprised when he got to them that the winner went that quick but he was very gallant in defeat.”
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