Warwoven has secured one of the final spots in the Golden Slipper with victory in the Pago Pago Stakes.
Bjorn Baker is now set to have two leading contenders in the Golden Slipper after Warwoven booked his place in the race with a professional performance in the Pago Pago Stakes.
Already with $5 equal favourite Paradoxium safely in the field, Baker was almost compelled to run Warwoven on Saturday to confirm his place in the race, and the colt duly delivered with a win.
After both horses were ruled out of the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January due to separate issues, Baker was cautious not to get ahead of himself but said it was pleasing to see Warwoven bounce back after his first defeat last start.
“We’re not counting our chickens until he’s at the start line,” Baker said.
“But 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 comes through, but two in the Slipper . . . very special.”
Warwoven was controversially scratched from the Magic Millions when Queensland Racing veterinarians deemed he was lame, while Paradoxium had his campaign interrupted by a bout of pneumonia.
Paradoxium proved he had recovered in style with a brilliant win in last week’s Todman Stakes, and Baker hopes the setbacks both horses endured earlier in the season may ultimately prove a blessing in disguise.
“I’ll tell you in about seven days and three hours,” he said.
“It could well be. It’s funny how things in this game, they have a funny way of working. You can be down and out, and it only takes one runner to get back on track.”
Warwoven ($2.70) settled second in the run before sprinting to the lead in the straight to score by a length from Outspan ($41), with Central Europe ($2.20 favourite) another half-head away in third.
His overall time of 1:10.41 was marginally quicker than the figure recorded by Pembrey when winning the Magic Night Stakes (1200m) earlier on the program.
Winning jockey Rachel King was delighted with the improvement the colt showed from his first-up fourth in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) and expects further progress heading into next weekend’s $5 million feature.
“There’s more under the bonnet, and I think if he gets challenged, there’s even more under the bonnet than today,” King said.
“He’s very exciting.”
Warwoven has firmed from $9 into $7 for next Saturday’s Golden Slipper (1200m), with Baker confirming King will retain the ride.
