Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State was represented by yet another highly promising two-year-old when the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven ran out an impressive winner of the TAB Plate (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Ridden by Rachel King, the imposing colt sat off a strong tempo set by Shiki (Too Darn Hot) and powered over the top of his rivals to score by just over two lengths and book a passage to the A$3 million Magic Millions (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 17.
“He was very good, it’s exciting and great to see those colours of the Cunningham family and a great bunch of owners in this horse,” Baker said.
“It’s what it’s about, he’s got a ticket to the Magic Millions now, he’s made his way in and he’s a lovely looking horse.
“I thought it was a big ask coming into today. He only had the one trial so I was questioning that and whether he was fit enough and if the 1000m would be too sharp for him.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and it’s another great purchase by Jim Clarke. He is just making my job and my team’s job so easy.
“After that win, I do know that going to 1100m and even the 1200m will be even better for him.”
The colt was sourced by Baker’s bloodstock agent Jim Clarke at the Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was offered by breeder Kia Ora Stud and knocked down for A$380,000.
Warwoven is the first foal of the Makfi mare Needle And Thread, who was the winner of the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and placed at Group Two level in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and Eight Carat Classic.
Sword Of State has had just the two runners in Australia to this point, with the other being stakes winner Torture (NZ), who landed the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October and is being readied for the Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
A Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State is well represented at January’s Karaka Yearling Sales, with a total of 50 yearlings by the emerging young sire catalogued across Book 1 (21), Book 2 (25) and the Summer Sale (4).
“I remember seeing Sword Of State himself as a yearling at Newgate Farm and he was a horse that was on my radar early as a very good two-year-old,” Clarke said.
“We had the benefit of seeing him again last year on a trip to New Zealand after he had retired to Cambridge Stud and let down into a beautiful horse.
“Warwoven was just a horse that physically stood out to us on the on-farm inspections when we were at Kia Ora this time last year and we saw him a number of times at the sale where he paraded very well.
“He was a horse we were very motivated to buy and we had to push the boat out to buy him. He was $380,000 but he has impressed Bjorn the whole way through and his win today on debut was a big coup and hopefully he can push on to the Magic Millions.