Warwoven and Fireball … both with a conflict connotation in their names … are set to engage in a possible battle royale in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes over 1200m at Randwick on Saturday, where they will put their unbeaten records on the line in a intriguing test of strength.
Both runners currently have the perfect record of two wins from two starts.
The Bjorn Baker trained Warwoven won his first two starts (on December 20 and January 3) in such impressive fashion that he was marked up as a seemingly unbeatable short-priced favourite for the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
We will never know whether Warwoven would have lived up to that hype because misfortune intervened when the son of Sword Of State was found to be lame in the eyes of the Racing Queensland vets in the days leading up to the Magic Millions showdown, which led to stewards ordering the withdrawal of Warwoven from the race.
Now he is back.
The timeframe of those two earlier victories allowed a perfect buildup into the Magic Millions, but now Warwoven will be first up on Saturday following an eight week break from race action.
Whether he strips fighting fit with this break between runs remains to be seen.
Rachel King, who was aboard Warwoven in both of his wins, has the ride.
By way of contrast, the Chris Waller trained Fireball, who won on debut back in November before being given a two month break, has had a lead-in run to Saturday’s assignment … and an impressive one it was which saw him salute in the $2 million Inglis Millennium.
The son of Snitzel was clearly primed for that challenge as he had five runners, with only less than a length between them, snapping at his heels in a pressurised finish.
Fireball comes int the race with a three week break between runs. James McDonald will nbe in the saddle.
Not that these are the only two runners with winning chances, particular with the ever shifting scenario that can, so often, relate to the form of two-year-olds.
Tornado Valley and Knightsbridge, from the top stables of Ciaron Maher and the Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott training partnership, could pose the biggest threat to Warwoven and Fireball.
Tornado Valley won the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate on debut but has had to settle for the runner-up slot in his two subsequent starts in the Group 3 B J McLachlan Stakes and the Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Very notable in those defeats though is the fact that he finished closeup behind the winner on both occasions which underlines the colt’s strong, competitive nature.
Knightsbridge, for his part, finished fifth only two lengths back in the Magic Millions Classic.
Both of these runners could have a say in the outcome.
