Cover image courtesy of Cambridge Stud
Second season sire Sword Of State, a Group 1 winning son of Snitzel, always profiled like a horse who would be a success at stud and now he’s proven his quality with 3-year-old colt Warwoven sprinting clear to win the sire-making G1 Golden Rose on Saturday.
Owned in partnership with Ridgmont and Kia Ora Stud along with others, the Bjorn Baker-trained colt has the G1 Caulfield Guineas and possibly even the G1 Cox Plate on the agenda next. But he’s already done enough to secure himself a place at stud either next season or the one following.
“We're pretty blown away by the result. For us over here in New Zealand to have a horse like Warwoven, not just winning the Golden Rose, but the way he did it in such dominant fashion, is hugely exciting,” Cambridge Stud’s Scott Calder said.
“We breed a lot of horses every year, and the dream is to try and breed a horse like this.
“We breed a lot of horses every year, and the dream is to try and breed a horse like this.” - Scott Calder
“To have Sword Of State in the stallion barn who has proven he's capable of producing a horse like Warwoven, a colt who can go out and be at the top of the game in races like the Golden Rose, which are just so important for the overall industry.”
Scott Calder | Image courtesy of NZTA
For breeders still looking at options for the mares, the news is good. The Book Full sign hasn’t gone up for Sword Of State in 2026. He stands in 2026 for NZ$50,000 plus GST. With the Golden Rose victory, Sword Of State has jumped in front of Home Affairs on the Australian Second Season Sire table. It's early days and Home Affairs, last year's Champion First Season Sire, has home-ground advantage.
“No, he's not full. He’s got a good book and he’s made a fast start, fertility wise but we are happy to take more bookings.”
A uniquely forward result for kiwi pastures
New Zealand has long held the reputation for producing stayers and horses who need a bit more time. The investment into Australian speed pedigrees, like Sword Of State, is usually out of reach for their market, especially for proven horses.
Sword Of State, a $600,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by David Ellis from Newgate Farm, did most of his racing in New Zealand winning four of his five starts at two including the G1 Diamond Stakes. At three, he won two Group 3 events and on two trips to Australia, he placed in the G3 Gold Coast Guineas.
“A lot of the time, New Zealand are just bystanders for the early spring with racing over shorter distances. Our bread and butter's always been Oaks and Derby types,” Calder said.
“A lot of the time, New Zealand are just bystanders for the early spring with racing over shorter distances. Our bread and butter's always been Oaks and Derby types.” - Scott Calder
“With the Golden Rose, it's a unique position to have even a horse in the field, but the way he won was so exciting. As soon as he got into the clear he quickened so quickly. It was obvious he was going to win and he smashed them, which makes you think, what's next?
Sword Of State | Standing at Cambrige Stud
“There's a lot to look forward to through the spring with him.”
Trainer Bjorn Baker stated after the victory that Warwoven would head to the G1 Caulfield Guineas next and told punters to get on now for the G1 Cox Plate.
“He's a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas. Even the Cox Plate – team get on now, we will get overs,” Baker said on Saturday.
Warwoven is currently $11 with the TAB for the G1 Cox Plate on October 24. It’s a big ask to win the Cox Plate at three. Anamoe ran second as a 3-year-old but the last 3-year-old to win was Shamus Award in 2013. Prior to that it was So You Think (NZ) in 2009 and Savabeel in 2004.
“Because of his female pedigree, we always wondered whether a race like the Guineas would be suitable. Henry (Plumptre) saw him at Bjorn (Baker)’s stable a couple of weeks ago, and he said, physically, he really looked like a horse that did have the scope to get out over a mile. With the way he ran through the line, you’d think the Guineas is the right race for him next, and it might be a good year for a 3-year-old to take out the Cox Plate,” Calder said.
“With the way he (Warwoven) ran through the line, you’d think the Guineas is the right race for him next, and it might be a good year for a 3-year-old to take out the Cox Plate.” - Scott Calder
Warwoven winning the G1 Golden Rose Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We try not to think about those things too much, because they're so far-fetched, but he’s already proven himself and maybe we can start to dream a little bit.”
Warwoven is the first foal out of the Group 2-winning mare Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}). She won on debut as a November 3-year-old, then won the G2 Royal Stakes over 2000 metres at Ellerslie on a Good track. Following that she placed twice at group level behind Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) who won that crop’s G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Sword Of State to spread the love for many
The impact of siring the G1 Golden Rose winner with his first crop is a benefit to more than just Cambridge Stud who stand him. While Warwoven was born in Australia on Kia Ora’s pastures in the Hunter Valley, there are many New Zealand breeders who will be paying attention to his pedigree and the race record of his dam.
“Warwoven is out of a mare that won the Royal Stakes over 2000 metres at Group 2, and we're lucky to have a number of nice mares in a similar mould to her. It’s exciting to think about what might come with foals we breed in the future,” Calder said.
Needle And Thread | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“We've had so many messages of congratulations, but also, there are many breeders who supported him. And it’s a real win for the New Zealand industry, and a lot of our clients who have yearlings for the sales this year or have mare in foal or are using him this year.
“He’s done this with his first crop and 20-something runners. It's also exciting to think what else is coming through with him. He’s already had a really impressive trial winning 2-year-old here and he's got that second crop of 2-year-olds as well as a lot of the progressive horses in his 3-year-old crop still to come.”
Sword Of State covered 126 mares in his first season, 142 in his second, followed by 131 and 177 in his third and fourth seasons.
“The quality of his mares this year is by far the best is bred he’s had, given that his fee increased. He had nice books the first three years and last year’s crop is his biggest.
“The quality of his (Sword Of State) mares this year is by far the best is bred he’s had, given that his fee increased. He had nice books the first three years and last year’s crop is his biggest.” - Scott Calder
“You've got to get the support from the broodmare owners for a stallion to keep that momentum up.
“No matter what stallion you are or where you are in your career, you have to have recent results. Currency on the racetrack matters, and having a big one in the spring is a big deal for a stallion.”
Recent results and good timing across the board
Cambridge Stud currently stand six stallions with four of those having runners on track. All four have sired a group winner this season, obviously led by Sword Of State’s Warwoven.
“Timing is everything. In this business you need to have the right results in the spring,” Calder said.
“Timing is everything. In this business you need to have the right results in the spring.” - Scott Calder
“The proven horses that have got runners on the track have all really hit the straps early in the spring, which for someone in my position when you're trying to talk to breeders and encourage them to breed their mares, it's a big help when you can hang your head on some recent results.
Four proven stallions, all siring group winners at this time of year. It’s the ideal outcome for a stallion barn.
“Over the last few weeks, Almanzor has had Pounce win the Group 3, he’s got Astoria who wasn’t far beaten when second in the Hawke’s Bay Guineas on Saturday. She’s a current favourite for the 1000 Guineas here.”
Pounce (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) won the G3 Sunline Vase over 1200 metres. All up, Almanzor (Fr) has 32 stakes winners in both hemispheres with three of his four Group 1 winners successful in this region. Circle Of Fire (GB) won the G1 Sydney Cup, Manzoice (NZ) won the G1 Victoria Derby and there’s dual Group 1 winner First Five (NZ) who was crowned Champion Sprinter/Miler at the recent New Zealand Horse Of The Year awards. Almanzor stands for NZ$35,000 plus GST in 2026.
“Hello Youmzain had that great weekend a couple of weekends ago with two stakes winners, including Persian Wonder in Sydney, which is very important for him.
“Hello Youmzain arguably has had the quicker start to the season. He had a stakes winner on the last day of last season, and he's already come out with three stakes winners this season. At $20,000 he’s a good value option in New Zealand this year.”
On September 12, Persian Wonder (NZ) won the G3 Ming Dynasty Stakes and Sweetest Thing (NZ) won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. He’s also had Perfect Chaos (NZ) victorious in the Listed Wanganui Guineas this spring and Back Of The Bus (NZ) won the Listed Ryder Stakes on the last weekend of last season. All up, Hello Youmzain (Fr) has 18 stakes winners across both hemispheres. He stands for NZ$20,000 plus GST in 2026.
Persian Wonder (NZ) | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Embellish is included too. He had Quintabelle win the Winter Cup right at the start of the season. They’re all holding their own and even though Embellish is at a lower fee, he certainly produces on the racetrack.”
Embellish (NZ) added G3 Winter Cup winner Quintabelle (NZ) on the first day of the new season. He has seven stakes winners in total. He stands for NZ$5,000 plus GST in 2026.
“Chaldean’s got yearlings coming up. He had a lot of people booking their mares on the back of his weanling sale results. He topped the weanling sale here in New Zealand at $250,000, which is a huge price in our market, and then he had one make a $180,000 over in Melbourne.” Chaldean (GB) stands for NZ$35,000 plus GST.
“Charyn has made the phones ring too.” Charyn (Ire) was announced as new in 2026 and was a group winner at two and three and a dual Group 1 winner at four. Charyn stands for NZ$35,000 plus GST.
But there’s one result among them all that matters the most.
“Warwoven and Sword Of State trumps them all because at the end of the day, the Group 1 wins are what matters. Most of our clients are breeding to sell, and we need the Australian buying bench to be engaged with the progeny of our stallions.” - Scott Calder
“Warwoven and Sword Of State trumps them all because at the end of the day, the Group 1 wins are what matters. Most of our clients are breeding to sell, and we need the Australian buying bench to be engaged with the progeny of our stallions, so having a big Group 1 in Sydney during the major carnival, that's the ultimate.”
