Unbeaten Sword Of State colt Warwoven (NZ) (Sword Of State) remains the horse to beat in Saturday’s A$3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) after the race favourite drew barrier six.
The juvenile has been dominant in his two starts to date, winning at Randwick in December before a commanding 3.3-length victory at Eagle Farm on January 3.
Trainer Bjorn Baker is chasing his third win in the feature after scoring with O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) last year and Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) in 2014.
“I think it is an ideal gate for him, we were hoping to get something like that (gate 6) and with the emergency out we come into 5,” Baker said.
“It’s a race where you definitely want to draw well if the track remains good. But even from that gate we have got the option to get out if we want to as well.
“I didn’t want to be too close to the inside, and you don’t want to be covering ground out deep.
“I think he’s got good tactical speed and he’s very laid back. He should be able to jump and hopefully put himself in the first six or seven comfortably enough.”
With the potential for rain later in the week, Baker is confident Warwoven could handle a softened track should it present.
“He is a big athletic horse and he is coming in with great fitness. So from that point of view, we’re happy,” Baker said.
“He’s out of a Makfi mare that could handle the wet a little bit, so he is probably as well set up as any.
“You don’t really know until they go on it, and I can’t recall him being on too wet a track. You never quite know, but my gut feeling is he will get through it pretty well.”
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.
First season sire Sword Of State has enjoyed a terrific start to his stud career, with just the two runners in Australia to this point, the other being stakes winner Torture (NZ) (Sword of State).
That Lindsay Park-trained juvenile won the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield in October and is among the favourites for Saturday week’s Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m).
Cambridge Stud stallion Sword Of State already heads the Australian first season sires’ table and has the potential to skip clear should Warwoven nab the A$1,739,100 winner’s prize. A Group One winning son of Snitzel, Sword Of State is well represented at this month’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).