Sword Of State colt stamps Slipper credentials

[Wandering Eyes]

Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State has a major Gr.1 Golden Slipper (1200m) contender in his first crop after Warwoven took out Saturday’s Gr.3 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill.

Warwoven wasted little time in stamping himself as a highly talented two-year-old, winning his first two starts in December and January to earn favouritism for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast. However, he was scratched on the morning of the race on vets’ advice.

Ever since then, expat New Zealand trainer Bjorn Baker has been playing catch-up in the countdown to the A$5 million Golden Slipper next Saturday. Warwoven returned to the races with a fourth in the Gr.2 Skyline Stakes (1200m) on February 28, after which his career earnings of A$156,750 left him in 18^th in the Golden Slipper order of entry and unlikely to make the field.

Baker had no choice but to line up Warwoven again in the Pago Pago, where a top-three finish would likely secure him a spot. The exciting colt did that and more.

Warwoven was ridden by Rachel King, who took up a handy position in second behind the front-running Star Of Jamaica.

Warwoven effortlessly cruised up alongside the leader coming up to the turn, then hit the front early in the run home.

He shook free of Star Of Jamaica at the 200m mark, and his strong kick put him out of the reach of the late-finishing Outspan and Central Europe.

Warwoven crossed the finish line a length in front, improving his career record to three wins from four starts and A$297,750 in stakes. He is now guaranteed a start in the Golden Slipper next week, for which the TAB rates him an $8 chance.

“He’s qualified now, and so he should be,” King said. “We would have been devastated if he wasn’t there, because as he’s proven today he deserves his spot.

“We knew he was going to be slightly underdone last start. We were hoping class would get us though, and probably the track brought us undone a touch. But he’s come out today and showed us what he can do.

“He’s still got improvement to come, he’s still very casual. He was very casual mid-race, very casual when he got to the front. But I love a colt like that, he’s got a fantastic attitude, nothing worries him.

“He improved massively from the other day, but I still think there’s a good 10% more there. I think there’s more under the bonnet, and I think if he gets challenged, there’s even more under the bonnet than today. He’s very exciting.”

Baker now has a powerful hand for the Golden Slipper next Saturday, with last-start Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) winner Paradoxium also among the favourites.

“We’re not counting our chickens, but it’s exciting to have two in the Slipper,” he said. “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’s come through.

“The little setback he had might even have helped him in the long run – I’ll tell you in about seven days and three hours whether it did or not. It could well be. Things have a funny way of working in this game. You can be down and out, and it only takes one runner to get back on track.

“He’ll be able to have a very easy week now, rest and relax, unlike his trainer and connections.”

Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) and Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Warwoven was sourced by Baker’s bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was offered by breeder Kia Ora Stud and knocked down for A$380,000.

Himself a Group One winner as a juvenile and New Zealand’s champion two-year-old in the 2020-21 season, Sword Of State has sired three winners from his first crop of two-year-olds. Warwoven’s black-type success has followed on from Torture, who won the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in the spring and placed in the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m) in January.

Another of Sword Of State’s progeny, State Of Valour, ran third in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) on Champions Day at Ellerslie, while winning filly State The Obvious also finished fourth in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

View the full article