Juvenile summary: Pago Pago glory for Warwoven - Now for the Slipper

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Warwoven lives up to the hype in the Pago Pago

It has been a great couple of weeks for trainer Bjorn Baker, whose two star 2-year-old colts Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Warwoven (Sword Of State) have put setbacks around Magic Millions Carnival time well behind them, collecting valuable Group wins and booking their spots in the G1 Golden Slipper.

Warwoven, who wears the Ridgmont colours like Paradoxium, resumed with a gallant close-up fourth in the G2 Skyline Stakes, but showed clear improvement from that effort when delivering in the G3 Pago Pago Stakes.

The Chris Munce and Corey Munce-trained Star Of Jamaica (Profiteer) was ridden with urgency by Nash Rawiller to lead, while Rachel King settled in second aboard Warwoven after working forward from a wide barrier. The tempo was genuine, and the royally bred colt Central Europe (Frankel {GB}) travelled sweetly near the rear of the field.

After straightening it quickly became apparent that Warwoven was travelling far better than the leader. He loomed up at the 300-metre mark and let down strongly. Central Europe and Outspan (Bivouac) were both finishing off strongly out wide, but Warwoven proved too strong, scoring by just under a length from Outspan and Central Europe, with both of those colts looking very much like ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes contenders for the carnival.

Baker now appears to hold a strong hand heading towards the Slipper, with both of his star colts set to peak on the big stage.

“We’re not counting our chickens until he’s at the start line, but it’s exciting to have two in the Slipper (also Paradoxium),” Baker said.

“It was great to see him do that, he’s a promising horse. He had to do a bit of work early today so hopefully he can peak next week. We’ve got to first and foremost see how he’s come through.

“He’ll be able to have a very easy week, rest and relax, unlike his trainer and connections.”

King has partnered Warwoven in every start to date and is clearly his biggest admirer.

“We would’ve been devastated if he wasn’t there (in the Slipper) because as he’s proven today he deserves his spot,” she said.

“We knew he was going to be slightly underdone last start, we were hoping class would get us through and probably the track brought us undone a touch. But he’s come out today and showed us what he can do.

“He’s still got improvement to come, he’s still very casual. He was very casual mid-race, very casual when he got to the front. But I love a colt like that, he’s got a fantastic attitude, nothing worries him.”

Sales info: Warwoven was purchased by Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling and Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd (FBAA) for $380,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Warwoven is the first foal out of the Group 2-winning mare Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}). Needle And Thread is also a half-sister to the Listed winner and multiple Group 1-placed stallion Savile Row (NZ).

Another member of this very strong family is the dual Group 1 winner and stallion The Gurkha (Ire), and the Group 1-placed Arrogant (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Needle And Thread, in recent years, has produced a Farnan yearling colt, a Farnan filly foal, and missed to both Ole Kirk and Farnan last spring.

Warwoven becomes the first Group winner for his Cambridge Stud-based stallion Sword Of State, and his second stakes winner after Torture (NZ) won the Listed Debutant Stakes earlier in the season.

Pembrey simply too quick in the Magic Night

The speedy filly Pembrey (Prague) put her unlucky run last start in the Sweet Embrace Stakes behind her with a dominant victory in the G3 Magic Night Stakes.

This time James McDonald removed luck from the equation, leading throughout on the Queensland-trained filly to secure a spot in the Golden Slipper Stakes. Owners Kia Ora Stud have indicated they are likely to pay the $150,000 late nomination fee.

The race was a comfortable watch for punters, with McDonald never appearing in any trouble aboard the filly. By Choice (Written By) sat second, while Lumbini (Russian Revolution) enjoyed the run of the race in the trail. The tempo was solid, but the leading trio had the race under control as the back markers struggled to make an impact.

In the end, Pembrey proved too strong, scoring by just under a length and a half from Lumbini, with By Choice just over a length away in third. A fast horse was simply allowed to use her natural speed, and the tactics paid dividends for McDonald and trainer Tony Gollan.

“She’s still learning isn’t she? Wobbling around, floating there today. She’s nowhere near the finished product but she’s in form and in form at the right time,” said Gollan.

“I think from what I’ve seen in the parade today, there’s enough horse there to go again in seven days.

“We’ll let Kia Ora make the decision if they want to pay up, we can have a look at her all week and see what we’ve got. She’s a nice filly in form, handles wet or dry, can show good speed so ticks all the boxes,” Gollan said.

“She’s a nice filly, she’s very push-button, 1200m is no worry. I think if she pulls up sound it won’t be a hard decision.”

McDonald was pleased to make amends for the filly’s luckless run at her previous start.

“She began a lot cleaner, I was alert to her this time. She began a bit awkwardly last start, I just rode her accordingly,” said McDonald.

“She’s a nice filly, she covers the ground well and she stargazed all the way up the straight, I thought if she was a sitting duck today was the day.

“Obviously I learned a lot, it was a bad ride last start. I’m so happy I can make amends today and Tony (Gollan) was solid by keeping me on. I’m glad I could repay him and the connections because she’s a beautiful filly.”

Sales info: Pembrey was offered by Vinery Stud at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale Book 2 where she failed to meet her $20,000 reserve. She is now raced by her breeders Kia Ora Stud, who also stand her sire Prague.

Pedigree info: Pembrey is out of the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes winner Se Sauver (Bel Esprit), who has produced nine runners to race for eight winners, including the three-time winner Amplify (Microphone), who has also placed in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet alongside Pembrey, who is now a Group 3 winner.

Se Sauver is well-related, being a half-sister to the Matt Laurie-trained Group 1 South Australian Derby winner Escado (Casino Prince), who was also successful in two further Group 3 staying races.

Big Wigs makes the Makybe Diva colours shine bright again

The Phillip Stokes-trained Big Wigs (Gold Standard) produced a booming run down the outside to claim the $1 million VOBIS Platinum Showdown at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday.

The exciting colt had finished close-up placings at Morphettville and Ballarat at his previous two starts and was well backed, likely due to the strength of his form line after finishing second behind Medicinal (Brazen Beau) at his last start - with that filly winning at Group 3 level at Flemington the previous weekend.

There was plenty of early speed as the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Lagunanini (I Am Immortal) took up the running from a group of horses, while the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained favourite Miss Chanel (Tagaloa) was caught wide.

The pace was hectic and favourite backers may have begun to lose hope, but Miss Chanel showed remarkable tenacity to take the lead turning for home. Meanwhile the in-form Lachlan Neindorf loomed large aboard Big Wigs out wide after settling well back in the field.

It looked as though the colt would quickly storm away for victory, but Miss Chanel fought like a tiger. In the end, Big Wigs proved too strong, scoring narrowly from a very brave Miss Chanel, with Knurl (Brazen Beau) finishing third ahead of the roughie Jourama (Frosted {USA}), who ran a gallant race in fourth.

The result carried extra significance following the recent loss of champion mare Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}), whose famous blue, white and red colours were again prominent in the mounting yard as owner Tony Santic celebrated with a large group of partners.

Tommy Stokes was on course to reflect on the victory in a race the stable had targeted for some time.

“He's the most quiet, honest colt to be around in the stable. He's a stable favourite and it's credit to the staff, they have done an incredible job.

“It's a massive thrill. It means a lot to have these colours aboard. Mr Santic is here on course today and he's brought a whole heap of owners with him.

“What a thrill. It's a massive prize money race. It's a race we targeted for a fairly long time. He's been to Adelaide, he's come back, we thought he'd be winning at Ballarat but he ran into a smart one, but he's been able to hold himself nicely here and Lachie summed it up perfectly.

“It was where Lachie wanted to be pre-race. He was confident to be there and have one last crack at them. He was spot on and the horse was very tough.”

Neindorf admitted the win carried plenty of emotion.

“It's super,” said Neindorf. “It almost makes me a little bit emotional, really. It's been such a big couple weeks for these colours, obviously, with the passing of the great mare.

“It's just a privilege whenever you put colours like these on and to go out there and get the job done in a nice 2-year-old makes it that extra special.

“He was a little bit keen at Ballarat in behind them and when I brought him to the outside he really went down through his gears. I was aware of that today.

“I think we were all a bit worried when the barrier draw came out, but it was a blessing in disguise in the end because we had all the three main dangers drawn inside of us.

“I wasn't sure where they were going to be but I was confident that I would end up on the back of one of them and I was confident that my horse had a good turn of foot and the extra rise in distance was going to suit him that little bit more.

“To be honest, I probably still let him go a little bit earlier. I probably could have straightened up and held onto him for an extra 50 metres before putting him through his gears because, jeez, he got there fast.”

Sales info: Big Wigs was bred by Makybe Racing and Breeding and is raced alongside a big group of partners.

Pedigree info: Big Wigs is out of the Denman mare Nooks And Crannies, who has produced the Group 2-placed Cavity Bay (Cable Bay), who also finished fourth in the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks.

Nooks And Crannies has a yearling filly by Lucky Vega (Ire) and, after missing to Benbatl (GB) last season, was covered by King’s Gambit in the spring.

Swift Dragon too sharp in The Jewel

The Liam Birchley-trained Swift Dragon (Dracarys) continued his trainer’s outstanding run in juvenile features this season, capturing the $500,000 QTIS Jewel at Gold Coast Turf Club on Saturday in the hands of Ryan Wiggins.

The victory adds to Birchley’s 2-year-old success this year, following his stable’s triumph in the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO in New Zealand with Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca).

The son of Oakwood Farm’s stallion Dracarys settled off what was an expected strong tempo before unleashing down the outside. Once he balanced up in the short Gold Coast straight, Swift Dragon quickly put the race beyond doubt, surging clear to score by just over a length.

Esperanza (Spirit Of Boom) finished resolutely to claim second, while Better Blitzem (Better Than Ready) was a further length away in third after making a solid run closer to the inside.

"That was so good. We struck a couple of offish tracks at Eagle Farm, so we were happy to get the horse onto a better surface today." Birchley commented.

"His trial before he came back showed what he could do, but we just didn't have any confidence in the track first-up because the rain made it so shifty.

“These bigger horses don't let down on those tracks sometimes. Last start it was much the same, but today was a different story.

Sales info: Swift Dragon was purchased by Bloodstock Solutions for $60,000 from the Ellay Bloodstock draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Capricornia Yearling Sale.

Pedigree info: Swift Dragon is the second live-foal out of the winner Tay Swift (Rothesay). Swift Dragon’s grandam is Perfect Feeling (Spinning World {USA}), she was a six-time winner up to 1650 metres, including in the Listed Tattersall's Mile.

This is also the extended family of the Group 1 winner Drought (Crested Wave {USA}), and the talented Shanghai Warrior (Elvstroem).