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Emerging colt Warwoven has stamped himself as the headline act of the three-year-old ranks this spring, producing a dominant display to capture the 2026 Caulfield Guineas results and further elevate his credentials for a daring tilt at the weight-for-age majors later this month.
The Bjorn Baker-trained son of Sword Of State arrived in Melbourne already carrying the mantle of Golden Rose winner and a short-priced favourite for the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m), but any lingering doubts about his ability to handle the unique challenges of Caulfield were emphatically answered.
Under a cool and confident ride from Rachel King, Warwoven travelled sweetly throughout before unleashing a powerful finishing burst in the straight to defeat the Prelude winner Blind Raise by 1¾ lengths, with Call Me Coach a further 3¼ lengths away in third.
The victory improved his record to six wins from nine starts and provided a second Group 1 success of the campaign after his Golden Rose triumph in Sydney.
Representing trainer Bjorn Baker, Luke Hilton admitted the pressure surrounding Warwoven’s Guineas assignment had been enormous.
“It is a bit emotional, actually,” the stable rep told Racing Victoria.
“There was a bit more pressure today. There was more excitement in Sydney but there was a fair bit of pressure with him today.
“The race probably didn’t pan out what we thought. Incredible ride, Rache. Had her wits about her. She knew what she had under her and when she hadn’t moved on him on the corner I thought he must be travelling well.
“He’s an outstanding colt. Bjorn has said for a long time that he could be one of those special horses that don’t come around too often. He’s proving him right so far.”
The race shape took the stable by surprise after Tron Bolt crossed from a wide gate and changed the expected tempo of the contest.
“It caught us a bit by surprise. He seemed to get into a lovely rhythm in the run and Rach gave him an incredible ride and he had to be tough late,” Hilton admitted.
“Trent’s horse (Blind Raise), he really fought hard. Great win.”
Saturday’s success was also a rewarding moment for the ownership group after the colt endured setbacks earlier in the year.
“As Bjorn said a couple of weeks ago, everyone was in a lot of hurt in January, but we banded together,” Hilton added.
“Credit to the owners, they were phenomenal. They understand that these things can happen and Bjorn has been able to pay them back now.
“Jim Clarke and the sales team have done a fantastic job. A first-season sire (Sword Of State) and they bought a beautiful colt.”
Hilton also paid tribute to King’s contribution and the work she has put into understanding the colt.
“It is very special. Over the past 24 hours she has copped a lot of instructions and running through the race play-by-play which she doesn’t appreciate because she is better off flying by the seat of her pants, but she did well and it means a lot,” he said.
“I see how hard she works and the ups and downs she goes through, it is an amazing game and it can be very tough as well.”
King was left searching for words after another stunning performance from the colt she believes still has improvement to come.
“He leaves me speechless, this horse. He’s unbelievable,” she said.
“There were a few question marks today, we didn’t know how he’d handle going this way around and Caulfield’s not an easy track to come to first time Melbourne way, but he’s just got so much class and he was still arrogant again.
“I know a lot of people said, ‘how can he peak again?’, but I don’t think he has peaked. I think there’s still more there.
“I’ve certainly never sat on a horse like this and he’s pretty unbelievable.”
King also acknowledged the role of Baker, bloodstock agent Jim Clarke and the entire team behind the colt’s rise.
“They’re unbelievable. The whole team behind them. Right from the start, Jim from the sales and Bjorn’s team have done an amazing job,” she said.
“We thought it was sort of dreams over a little bit back at the start of the year, but they’ve done an amazing job to just be patient with him and let him have his time and it’s really paid off.”
The beaten brigade were quick to acknowledge the quality of the winner.
Runner-up jockey Blake Shinn was full of praise for his mount Blind Raise after chasing Warwoven home.
“He forged it up but ran into a super colt. I thought it was a very good effort,” he said.
James McDonald, aboard the fourth placed Central Europe, also came away impressed.
“I was so pleased with him,” he said.
“He felt the winner at the top of the straight, but the winner and the second horse were just too good.
“Very proud of him.”
Meanwhile, Mark Zahra highlighted the enormous potential of third-placegetter Call Me Coach.
“It was a huge effort,” Zahra said.
“He didn’t have the speed early. I was happy to sit back early and relax and for him to hit the line like he did at his third start, he has a bright future ahead.”
Attention now turns to what could be an ambitious weight-for-age assignment in the Group 1 $6 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington on October 24, with Warwoven shaping as one of the most exciting three-year-olds seen in recent seasons.
Bookmakers were quick to react to his emphatic Caulfield Guineas victory, with race sponsor Ladbrokes trimming his 2026 Cox Plate odds from $15 into $5, placing him among the leading contenders for the famous feature.
Ladbrokes Cox Plate 2026 Odds
| 1. Sir Delius | ||
| 2. Aeliana | ||
| 3. Warwoven | ||
| 4. Cosmic Crusader | ||
| 5. Birdman |
If Saturday’s performance is any guide, the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas winner may be ready to test himself against the older stars. On the evidence of his Melbourne demolition job, Warwoven looks every bit the colt capable of making the leap.
