In a performance described by his history making jockey as ‘dominant’ and by his in-form trainer as ‘very special’, Warwoven (Sword Of State) provided a huge success for both connections of him and his sire when he scored an utterly dominant win in Saturday’s Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Rosehill.
Having become his sire’s first Group race winner when landing the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Rosehill back in March, the Bjorn Baker trained colt hit new heights here as he provided Cambridge Stud’s second-season sire Sword Of State (Snitzel) with an early Group 1 victory.
Ridden by his usual partner Rachel King, Warwoven was sent off the $6 third-elect and sat fourth on the rail throughout before finding himself slightly short of room rounding the home bend.
However, when a gap appeared the colt was quick to take advantage, sweeping to the front before clearing away inside the final 150 metres to run out a ready 3.4 lengths winner over old rival St Gotthard.
There was a further 0.05 lengths back to Yulong’s Under Focus (Too Darn Hot), who had been front rank for most of the 1400-metre trip.
Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) hero Guest House, who was sent off the $2.50 favourite, was never involved in the finish and ran sixth.
“He was dominant,” King, who in winning the race made history as the first female rider to lift the Golden Rose trophy, said.
“He’s very good, we know he’s very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that today.” – anzbloodstocknews.
