Baker was concerned the 1000m might be too sharp for Warwoven off just one trial, but he was now looking confidently to the January 17 Classic.
“After that win today, I do know that going to 1100 and even 1200 at the Magic Millions he’s going to be better suited, so very exciting,” Baker said.
Rachel King wins on Warwoven.Credit: Getty Images
“We’ll just weigh it up, more than likely we may give him another run.”
Baker, who won the Classic last year with O’Ole, also has Wyong MM Classic winner Paradoxium as the $3.50 favourite for the race. Filly Masvingo is another potential starter and runs next week at Randwick.
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shiki finished fourth and drifted from $4.50 to $8 for the Classic. John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Norman’s Cay finished second but pulled up with a fractured cannon bone in the near foreleg and may not race again.
Plaintiff makes case for stakes goal
Trainer Peter Snowden will look to late autumn and winter targets with unbeaten filly Plaintiff after she completed her education with a third victory in Sydney.
The Zoustar-Prompt Response three-year-old, a $2.2 million buy for John Camilleri, started favourite ($2.80) in the benchmark 72 handicap (1300m) at Randwick after midweek and Saturday wins at Rosehill to begin her career.
She came from last under Chad Schofield to run down Shady Road by a neck and further stamp herself as a potential star of the future.
Snowden said Plaintiff would have a short spell before preparations for the autumn but he was unsure of an exact path.
He said the group 1 Surround Stakes at Randwick on February 28 “was on the radar but it’s just going to come too early”, and that he believed she was better than group 3 targets like the PJ Bell and James HB Carr Stakes.
Plaintiff has won three from three.Credit: Getty Images
“There’s not a lot of races around here, but I’m sure she’ll make her mark here and probably go to the Brisbane winter carnival later for some decent races,” Snowden said.
“It’s more important to me to teach her how to be a racehorse instead of going in there half-hearted, wanting to and not the right races.
“The groundwork is done now, she’s educated. We know her ability, we know she can race at the front or back, she’s very adaptable and she’s got a great turn of foot, so I’m sure there’s good things ahead.”
Chad Schofield was charged with careless riding on Plaintiff after allowing her to shift in on Namaste near the 200m mark. He pleaded guilty and was given a seven-meeting suspension, which was cut to four. It will start immediately and finish on January 1.
Good brother delivers for Pride
Trainer Joe Pride was torn between chasing another city benchmark race or resting King’s Secret before a rise to stakes level in the autumn after his commanding win at Randwick on Saturday.
Out of the same mare as Pride’s $12.8 million money-spinner Private Eye, King’s Secret took his record to five wins and four placings in 10 starts with a one and three-quarter lengths victory when second up in the benchmark 94 handicap over 1100m.
Zac Lloyd put King’s Secret, the $2.25 TAB favourite and lay of the day, behind leader Zealously before the four-year-old easily reeled him in the closing stages.
Pride said he had no doubt King’s Secret was up to stakes level but he was unsure what was next.
“He’s got speed to put himself in the race, he’s got acceleration,” Pride said.
“I’m not sure he’s Private Eye but he’s a good brother.
“There’s a 1200, benchmark 88 here in a couple of weeks, or do I give him a freshen and have a crack at the carnival? There’s plenty to think about it.”
The listed Canterbury Sprint (1200m) on New Year’s Day was another option Pride wasn’t ruling out.
Chasing cows key to Highway win
Trainer Paul Snowden said Navy Buoy will go back to a paddock life of chasing cows after he dominated the class 3 Highway Handicap at Randwick on Saturday.
Navy Buoy ($4.20 favourite), a $30,000 online buy for Anthony Manton in July, made it three wins in four starts under Snowden when he led and kicked clear for a three and a quarter-lengths victory. It was the Port Macquarie trainer’s second win form two attempts at Highway grade.
Snowden said he does “bugger all” between runs with the four-year-old, which was a six-start maiden when he joined his stable, which is set to expand in the new year from 15 to 23 boxes.
“He’ll go out in the paddock for a week or so, find himself in a bit of water, just chasing cows around, that’s another thing that I’ve done with him,” Snowden said.
“Very subtle things, but it flicks the switch.
“I think we’ll just find another benchmark race this time of year, just keep chipping away and who knows what he might turn out to be. He might find himself in a Port [Macquarie] Cup.”
Easy call looms with Lees stayer
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was eyeing his home cup – or even better targets – with Brave Call after the import showed his staying ability and versatility at Randwick on Saturday.
The five-year-old import, which had one victory in England before coming to Australia, backed up a soft 7 surface win over 2000m at Kembla on Gong day with a good 4 track victory over 2400m a month later on Saturday. Tommy Berry had Brave Call last on the turn before tracking eventual runner-up King Pedro into the race and shading him late by a short neck. It was Brave Call’s first crack over the extra trip and gave Berry a double on the day after his win on Navy Buoy.
Lees said Brave Call was a horse with plenty of upside which had a good 12 months ahead. He said Brave Call may spell now before an autumn return into a Brisbane winter carnival campaign and a potential shot at the Newcastle Cup (2300) in the spring. Lees has won his hometown cup just once, with Mugatoo in 2020.
