Craig Kerry
The Everest was doubtful but a stud future was assured after Warwoven blew away his rivals in the group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Sword Of State colt was given a gun run under Rachel King, who became the first female rider to win the $1 million stallion-making three-year-old feature.
King found a spot three back on the rails from gate one before peeling out Warwoven into clear air at the top of the straight and storming to a three-and-a-quarter-lengths victory over St Gotthard, with Under Focus third.
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker, who earlier had a group 3 double in the Heritage Stakes with Blue Door and the Colin Stephen Quality with So You Are, said going to the $20 million Everest (1200m) on October 17 was โdoubtful, but weโll see what happensโ.
It was a first win in the race for Baker, who was looking to the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and potentially Cox Plate (2040m) as more group 1 targets for Warwoven, which was $6 on Saturday despite winning the group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) two weeks earlier.
He said it was a special win, especially after Warwoven missed the Magic Millions Classic then drew wide and finished unplaced in the Golden Slipper.
โA 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,โ Baker said.
โHeโs a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas, even the Cox Plate โ 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.
โWe were in the hurt locker about January 14 when he was scratched from the Magic Millions on the morning of. But you donโt panic, you have great people around you, they pick you up and you can be here and win a Group 1 โ heโs a stallion now.โ
Bloodstock agent Jim Clarke, who bought the Golden Rose winner for $380,000 and Paradoxium for $400,000 at the same yearling sale, was confident Warwoven would handle the step-up to 1400m, given his dam, Needle And Thread, was a 2000m stakes race winner.
โIt was amazing,โ Clarke said.
โThatโs a huge thrill for him to come off in that fashion. You hope you can be at the point of the end, but for him to be as dominant as he was in a race of this quality and prestige is unbelievable.โ
Clarke was sure his phone would be buzzing with offers from studs for the Ridgmont Farm-owned prospect.
โHeโs so beautiful, all quality and a lovely animal, so heโll be highly sought after for sure,โ he said.
โHeโs in the Cox Plate, heโs in the Guineas, so weโll keep dreaming anyway, but at the moment, Iโm pretty thrilled with that one.โ
King said she was worried when back further than expected in the run.
โItโs difficult when your husband [Baker racing manager Luke Hilton] gives you part of the instructions, and he says, โwhatever you do, donโt be three-back the fenceโ and I was like, Iโm testing him a little bit here,โ King said.
โBut heโs 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.โ
Golden Slipper winner and favourite Guest House, which finished sixth, raced keenly behind Warwoven and shifted out into James McDonald-ridden, Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard mid-race.
Stewards questioned jockey Zac Lloyd and McDonald about the incident and potential contact back the other after the clash but no charge was laid. Tim Clark was also questioned about the tactics on surprise Waller-trained leader Central Europe, which finished 10th.
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