The task for rivals of unbeaten colt Warwoven might’ve just gotten a bit harder after the Magic Millions 2yo Classic favourite drew barrier six at Tuesday’s barrier draw on the Gold Coast.
A son of first season sire Sword Of State, Warwoven backed up an impressive maiden win at Randwick with a dominant 3.3 length victory at Eagle Farm on January 3rd which cemented his place at the head of the market.
Bjorn Baker is looking to go back-to-back in the $3 million feature this Saturday having won the race with O’ Ole last year and said Warwoven was raring to go.
“He had a nice gallop this morning,” Bjorn said post Tuesday’s draw.
“He had a good gallop towards the end of last week, and this morning it wasn’t so much about running time.
“It was just about finishing off nicely, following a horse, and he looked really good that last bit.
“He looked to recover well, I think he’s fit and ready to go.”
In a field of 16, Warwoven will jump from barrier five if the emergency fails to make the field, and Baker said that should work out perfectly.
“Very happy, I think it’s ideal,” Baker said.
“I didn’t want to be too close to the inside, and you don’t want to be covering ground out deep.
“I think he’s got good tactical speed and he’s very laid back. He should be able to jump, hopefully put himself in the first six or seven comfortably enough.
“Sometimes you can overanalyse, you don’t know how the track’s going to play, but at this stage, very happy with the gate.”
While Warwoven has been quickly supported into $2.10 with online betting sites with Rachel King to keep the ride, Baker will saddle up $41 outsider Masvingo (barrier 12) in the 2yo Classic, as well as last year’s winner O’ Ole in the Magic Millions 3yo Guineas.
O’ Ole drew barrier 10 in the $3 million Guineas and Baker was hoping a return to the Gold Coast would see improvement.
“She’s going to have to improve and get back to her best to be competitive, but she’s not out of it,” Baker said.
“Of course, she won the two-year-old race last year, so we know she goes well at the Gold Coast.”
Hot favourite Ninja, trained by Michael Freedman, drifted from $1.75 to $1.85 after coming up with barrier 17 of 17 but remains the clear top pick courtesy of his 4.8 length romp in the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate (1300m) last start.
