Warwoven cements Slipper spot with Pago Pago Stakes win
Bjorn Baker will head into next weekend’s $5 million Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) with more than one leading chance after Warwoven (Sword Of State) secured his place in the field with a professional victory in Saturday’s Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Rosehill.
Already holding a strong hand with equal Slipper favourite Paradoxium (Extreme Choice), Baker was eager to guarantee Warwoven’s start in Rosehill’s juvenile showpiece, and the colt delivered, earning the ballot exemption that comes with victory in the Group 3 lead-up.
Under his regular rider Rachel King, Warwoven ($2.70) settled just off the speed before quickening smartly in the straight, going on to score by a length over $41 chance Outspan (Bivouac), with the $2.20 favourite Central Europe (Frankel) just 0.1 lengths further away in third.
The Sword Of State (Snitzel) colt’s winning time of 1:10.41 was marginally quicker than that posted by Pembrey (Prague) in the fillies’ equivalent, the Magic Night Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m), run earlier on the program.
It is quite the feat that Baker has managed to qualify the two colts for the Slipper, both having had their preparations interrupted.
Warwoven was controversially scratched from January’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) after Queensland Racing veterinarians deemed him lame, while stablemate Paradoxium also missed the race due to pneumonia before announcing his return with a brilliant victory in last week’s Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
Baker said he was pleased to see Warwoven rebound after the colt suffered a first defeat when fourth on reappearance in last month’s Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m).
“We’re not counting our chickens until he’s at the start line [of the Slipper],” Baker said, “but it was great to see him do that. He’s a promising horse. He had to do a bit of work early today, so hopefully he can peak next week.
“We’ve got to, first and foremost, see how he comes through, but two in the Slipper…it is very special.
“Things in this game have a funny way of working. You can be down and out, and it only takes one runner to get back on track.”
King was also encouraged by the colt’s improvement from his first-up effort.
“There’s more under the bonnet, and I think if he gets challenged, there’s even more under the bonnet than today,” the winning rider said. “He’s very exciting.”
Saturday’s success saw Warwoven firm into $7 (from $9) for the Golden Slipper, sitting on the second line of betting behind Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Chayan (I Am Invincible) and Paradoxium, both rated $5 chances. Baker confirmed King will retain the ride.
The Pago Pago Stakes/Golden Slipper double has been won four times by Inspired (Vain) (1984), Rory’s Jester (Crown Jester) (1985), Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) (2005) and Shinzo (Snitzel) (2023).
Warwoven was bought by his trainer and owners Ridgmont, S and J Gosling and Jim Clarke for $380,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of his breeders Kia Ora Stud. He is out of the Group 2-winning Makfi (Dubawi) mare Needle And Thread, herself a sister to Listed winner and three-time Group 1 placegetter Savile Row, who stands at Mapperley Stud in New Zealand.
Despite his already high profile, Saturday’s Group 3 win was Warwoven’s first at stakes level and the second as a sire for Cambridge Stud’s Sword Of State. Twin Hills will offer the only progeny of the son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale later this month. The colt is catalogued as Lot 322.