Warwoven among Slipper hopefuls chasing last-chance qualifiers
Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Rosehill will provide the final opportunity for several juveniles to force their way into the field for next week’s Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m).
Among them is former Slipper favourite Warwoven (Sword Of Stare), who currently sits 18th in the order of entry and needs a strong performance in Group company to secure a start.
The Sword Of State (Snitzel) colt headed to the Gold Coast for January’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) unbeaten in two starts, but was controversially scratched when Racing Queensland veterinarians deemed him lame.
Trainer Bjorn Baker, who also prepares last Saturday’s Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner and current Slipper co-favourite Paradoxium (Extreme Choice), believes Warwoven will improve significantly on his recent first-up fourth in the Skyline Stakes at Randwick.
“He is going to come on, no doubt about it,” Baker said. “He’s probably even got a touch more improvement from where Paradoxium is at the moment.”
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will have four runners across the two races as they seek a late Slipper contender.
Fillies By Choice (Written By) and Lumbini (Russian Revolution) contest the Magic Night, while Plagiarism (Written By) and Drumfire (Farnan) line up in the Pago Pago.
By Choice has been consistent through four starts, including a third placing in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), and Bott expects the filly to again be prominent.
“She’s been very honest throughout her career,” Bott said. “She puts herself up on pace and should appreciate a strong tempo.”
Plagiarism has also been competitive in his three runs to date, finishing less than a length from winner Campione D’Italia (Snitzel) when fifth in the Skyline Stakes.
Stablemate Drumfire enters the Pago Pago after making a winning debut at Muswellbrook last Sunday, with Bott keen to test the colt in stronger company despite the quick turnaround.