Friday, 23rd October 2026
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A potentially historic spring campaign beckons for brilliant three-year-old Warwoven after the Bjorn Baker-trained colt reinforced his standing among Australia's most exciting racing and breeding prospects with a commanding victory in Saturday's $3 million Gr1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m), adding Melbourne's prestigious mile Classic to his earlier Gr1 Golden Rose success in Sydney. According to magicmillions.com.au, the son of Sword of State handled his first appearance racing in the Melbourne direction with consummate professionalism, settling comfortably in fifth position under Rachel King before displaying a devastating turn of foot to overwhelm talented local contender Blind Raise and win by almost two lengths. The performance was particularly impressive given the questions surrounding his ability to reproduce his extraordinary Golden Rose effort at a different track and over an increased distance, yet Warwoven appeared to dismiss those concerns with breathtaking ease. Assistant trainer and racing manager Luke Hilton, who is also King's husband, acknowledged the considerable pressure surrounding the colt's assignment while praising his wife's composure and judgement in allowing Warwoven to find his rhythm before making his winning move. For King, the result represented a tenth career Gr1 triumph and another defining achievement in an increasingly distinguished riding career. The victory was equally significant commercially, with Warwoven becoming the third successive Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate to capture the Caulfield Guineas, following Autumn Boy and Private Life. Bred and offered by Kia Ora Stud, Warwoven was purchased for $380,000 at the 2025 Gold Coast Yearling Sale by a buying partnership including Ridgmont, Baker and bloodstock agent Jim Clarke, with his subsequent achievements providing an extraordinary return on that investment. He has now won six of nine starts and accumulated $2,987,150 in prizemoney, figures that scarcely reflect the enormous stallion value he is rapidly building. His pedigree offers further encouragement, being by Cambridge Stud's Gr1-winning stallion Sword of State from the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, herself a Gr2 Royal Stakes winner over 2000m and a sister to Stakes winner and three-time Gr1 runner-up Savile Row. Earlier disappointment when Warwoven was withdrawn on the morning of the Magic Millions 2YO Classic has become a distant memory for connections, whose patience has been rewarded with successive victories at the highest level. With a possible confrontation against older horses in the Gr1 Cox Plate now entering calculations, Warwoven's magnificent Caulfield performance has elevated him from outstanding Classic winner to a colt with the potential to become one of the defining thoroughbreds of the Australian spring.
