Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Bjorn Baker has taken confidence from the style of Warwoven’s Golden Rose victory as they attempt to join elite company in the Caulfield Guineas with the Warwick Farm trainer’s first runner in the race.
Warwoven, a $380,000 son of Sword Of State, cemented his future at stud with a brilliant victory in the group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill last month. It was Baker’s first win in the stallion-making feature for three-year-olds and he hopes Warwoven can back that up over the mile on Saturday in the group 1 Guineas, where the colt can add to his already substantial post-track value.
If he wins, Warwoven will join stallion successes The Autumn Sun (2018) and Ole Kirk (2020) as colts to have completed the 1400m Golden Rose-1600m Caulfield Guineas double. He will also be the first to do the hat-trick taking in the group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).
Again, the rise in distance is the query for Warwoven, but Baker was encouraged by the Golden Rose performance, when he settled further back than expected, three back on the rail, and had to be eased off heels mid-race in his first try at 1400m. He was able to still settle under Rachel King and prove explosive late when the gap opened, surging to a three-length demolition.
“That’s the thing about him, he has a lovely, relaxed way of going and he’s got speed out of the gates,” Baker said of the $2.20 TAB favourite from gate six.
“From that point of view, he’s a little bit bombproof. We won’t say fully, but he’s definitely got some good attributes.
“His work’s been great since, we are really happy with him.
“Rachel King has plenty of confidence. No doubt a few new horses here, but he’s in good order.
“I guess the one question mark is the mile, but his mum [Needle And Thread] was good over 2000, so fingers crossed.
“I don’t think it will be a problem. I think he’s had a good grounding – 1100, 1200, 1400 to the mile.
“I don’t think I’ve actually had a runner in this race before, so you’d love to be competitive.”
Baker savoured the Golden Rose win after Warwoven’s promising but disrupted two-year-old campaign peaked with victory in the group 3 Pago Pago.
He was keen, though, for a bonus victory and a potential shot at the 2040m Cox Plate.
“The Cox Plate is an option, but he’d have to run really well and recover well,” he said.
“To get the horse from day dot and get entrusted with a really nice, sharp yearling and get the job done is definitely satisfying.
“Hopefully, it enables me to get some nice, well-bred colts going forward.”
Paradoxium, also bought by Baker, Jim Clarke and Ridgmont at the same Magic Millions sale, is also on track for a stud career after Yulong acquired majority ownership. The $400,000 Extreme Choice colt was $2.30 favourite for the group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday after winning the Poseidon Stakes.
“He’s definitely very well. His work’s been great since,” Baker said.
“He’s got a good gate and he should be able to take advantage and be hard to beat.”
Yulong is the only slot-holder yet to confirm its runner for next week’s $20 million Everest. Angel Capital appears the likely choice but Paradoxium could be an attractive option with just 53 kilograms.
“It’s their call, but I’m really comfortable with him in the Roman Consul on Saturday and I think it’s the ideal preparation into the Coolmore [Stud Stakes],” said Baker, who already has Blue Door (Newgate-GPI Racing) and Caballus (James Harron) in the Everest.
Baker was weighing up a start for Robusto and Sandpaper in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes at Rosehill after they drew the outside gates.
Mott keen for war of Attrition with Lindermann
Victorian jockey Jamie Mott believes Attrition has the upper hand on Lindermann and can help make his rare trip to Sydney a rich breakthrough in the $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
The Mornington-based hoop has had only 11 rides in Sydney, without a win, over his almost 23-year career but heads north on Saturday morning with two genuine chances for the biggest cheques on the program.
With no rides in the Caulfield Guineas, Mott took up an invitation from trainer Mitch Freedman to stick with Attrition after they finished third in the group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) in their first race together. He then picked up the steer on Cliff Brown-trained Sepals in the $1.5 million Alan Brown Stakes (1400m).
Attrition won the Hill Stakes in 2024 and was second last year to Lindermann, which was last in the Underwood three weeks ago but into a $1.75 TAB favourite to bounce back in the Hill Stakes. Attrition was $7.50 from gate three in a field of eight and Mott was confident he could fire again.
“It ran great in what is going to be a really good form race with Birdman winning and runner-up Cosmic Crusader then coming out and winning the Turnbull quite well,” Mott said.
“He has run well in this race twice, too, so hopefully he’s back to his best.
“Obviously, Lindermann maybe didn’t handle Caulfield or whatever, but still, out of that race, you would think my horse would have the upper hand at the moment. No doubt though that Lindermann goes better that way.
“When I got on him last start, I asked Mitch where was he at, looking at his form, and he said he’s been getting fit on wet tracks, which he doesn’t like, so don’t worry about his form. He’s got conditions to suit today, he’ll run much better. Then he ran third at 100-1, so he was spot on.
“A good track will suit both my horses. They won’t be far off the pace so even if it is on-pace, I will be close enough. I’ll be stalking Lindermann on Attrition and hopefully getting him late.
“They will both be very competitive, and hopefully they are good enough on the day and it’s worth the trip up.”
Brown opted for the Alan Brown over the Toorak Stakes with Sepals, which was a $5 equal favourite from gate eight after finishing second to Angel Capital in the group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes first up. He was runner-up in the Stradbroke at the end of his previous preparation.
Mott rode Sepals to his first two wins, in January last year, but has not been back aboard.
“I think Cliff wanted to give him one more run at 1400, and his 1400m record is pretty amazing. He’s very well up to winning a race like that,” Mott said.
“He’s a very good horse. He wasn’t as big and strong as he is now when I was riding him. He was only a maiden and going through the low ratings races, but he gave me a nice feel and he’s obviously strengthened and got to a good level now.
“I had a quick look at the speed map and there’s a bit of speed out wide as well, so I might be able to get into a nice position on him.”
Mott, who went to five group 1 wins when My Gladiola claimed the Moir Stakes last month, has not been to Sydney since riding Numerian to sixth in the 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
