Warwoven's Golden Rose win propels colt to $30 million valuation

The sheer versatility of Warwoven is evident in trainer Bjorn Baker's contemplation of races spanning diverse distances, although he cannot participate in all. Nevertheless, Warwoven's dominant performance in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday was so spectacular that the colt now carries a $30 million price tag, allowing Baker to set his sights on significant future targets.

"A lot of form analysts out there, you are allowed your own opinion, that is what makes our game so great,'' Baker said.

"But I thought this colt was right in it, I didn't want to look at the odds, I didn't want to back him, there was too much riding on it.

"He's a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), even the Cox Plate (2040m) – 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.''

However, away from the media attention, Baker adopted a more measured tone, not entirely ruling out The Everest (1200m).

"I would say The Everest is doubtful but we will see what happens,'' Baker said.

"When you have a colt this good, you have to consider all the options."

Baker admitted to experiencing the full spectrum of racing emotions with Warwoven this year.

"It is an amazing game, racing,'' Baker said. "It is the best game in the world and I don't say that lightly.

"We were in the hurt locker about January 14 when he was scratched from the Magic Millions on the morning of (the race).

"But you don't panic, you have great people around you, they pick you up and you can be here and win a Group 1 – he's a stallion now."

In a display of exceptional dominance, Warwoven ($6), steered by Rachel King, surged to a commanding three-and-a-quarter length victory in the Golden Rose. St Gotthard ($3.70) finished second, with Under Focus ($12) a further half head back in third.

The favourite, Golden Slipper champion Guest House ($2.45), was unable to maintain its position after an incident with the second-placed horse mid-race, ultimately finishing sixth, behind Tenenbaum (fourth) and Tron Bolt (fifth).

Zac Lloyd, the rider of Guest House, stated that the clash with St Gotthard significantly impacted his colt's winning potential.

"The first half of the race went alright and we got onto the back of Warwoven which I thought was a good play,'' Lloyd said.

"Then just when the pace dropped out of the race around the side, he got a bit keen on the heels of Warwoven, then we had a little bump with St Gotthard and it took a bit of 'gas' out of him."

Nevertheless, the focus remained on Warwoven, who appeared to be in a class of his own during the concluding stages of the Golden Rose.

"He was (dominant), he's very good, but we know he's very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that today,'' King said.

"I thought I'd either be leading or the leader's back. It's difficult when your husband (Bjorn Baker's racing manager, Luke Hilton) gives you part of the instructions, and he says, 'whatever you do, don't be three-back the fence' and I was like, I'm testing him a little bit here'.

"But he's 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.

"We know he's got an awesome turn of foot, and I was desperate to get him up over this kind of distance and probably even further. He's proven that he's the real deal today."

King's successful ride aboard Warwoven sealed a stakes race double for the Baker stable, having earlier triumphed on So You Are in the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).

For Baker, the day was particularly memorable, achieving a stakes race treble with wins from So You Are and Blue Door in the Group 3 Heritage Stakes, complementing Warwoven's victory in the prestigious Group 1 Golden Rose.

"This is very special,'' Baker said.

"I thought he paraded superbly, he's so good looking, he's so fast. I don't even have to sell him, he sold himself.

"So many of my great friends are in this horse and you saw an amazing performance today.

"Rachel King, she's got ice in her veins. She summed it up so well.

"All my team back at home, they are amazing to work with and we have fun every day.

"We go through the losses as a team, we take the wins as a team and I can tell you it is a pretty big team today."

James McDonald, the jockey for the Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard, lauded his colt's impressive second-place finish as "outstanding."

"The interference at the 800m, it was no one's fault, it was just the horse came out when over-racing and took the wind out of me,'' McDonald said.

"He never really recovered after that so for him to box on and run second like that was incredible. If I had the winner's run I would have given the race a shake."

Stewards from Racing NSW issued McDonald a reprimand concerning his involvement in the bumping duel between St Gotthard and Guest House.

The Kris Lees-trained Under Focus displayed considerable grit in finishing third, further solidifying his standing as a colt with significant potential.

"Under Focus is still very raw but, gee, he travelled well at the top of the lane,'' jockey Dylan Gibbons said.

"I was surprised when he got to them that the winner went that quick but he was very gallant in defeat."

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