Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day recap
"Still arrogant" Warwoven (Sword Of State) completes the rare and spectacular G1 Golden Rose Stakes-G1 Caulfield Guineas double with a commanding win at Caulfield on Saturday.
Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) is G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes bound after rolling the boys in the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
Unbeaten in her first three starts, Proxima Dea (Tarzino {NZ}) continued the trend at Rosehill, taking out the G3 Gloaming Stakes in an eye-catchingly tight finish.
Profiteer's first stakes winner Fraudster has the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas in his sights after a confident victory in the G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton.
The juveniles were out over three tracks, with Venus Invicta (Capitalist) plotting a path to the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic after a win at Eagle Farm, Zanardi (NZ) (Spirit of Boom) striking at Hasting, and Albirex starting strongly at Ascot.
Warwoven completes rare double with Caulfield Guineas victory
Prior to Saturday, The Autumn Sun and Ole Kirk were the only stallions to complete the G1 Golden Rose Stakes–G1 Caulfield Guineas double since the former achieved Group 1 status in 2009, and given the records both are carving at stud, the future is looking particularly bright for new double scorer Warwoven (Sword Of State).
Bjorn Baker’s stable star was sent south for the first time for his back to back Group 1 mission, and he was given a positive ride out of the barriers by regular partner Rachel King, before securing a midfield spot under a high pressure tempo.
As the field turned for home, it was time for the colt to make his move, eating into a hefty lead set by Blind Raise (NZ) (Ace High) before surging away past him to win by a length and three quarters. A further three and a quarter lengths stretched back the next fastest finisher, Call Me Coach (Dundeel {NZ}) who was having his third start.
"He leaves me speechless, this horse - he's unbelievable," King 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.
"He (Warwoven) leaves me speechless, this horse - he's unbelievable." - Rachel King
"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."
Baker’s assistant trainer Luke Hilton was the first to admit that there was a lot of pressure heading into the Guineas after the colt, whose majority owner is Ridgmont, thwarted the Golden Rose field by over three lengths. It wasn’t a race that was an easy watch either.
Warwoven winning the G1 Caulfield Guineas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The race probably didn't pan out how we thought,” Hilton said, praising the performance from King. “Incredible ride, Rachel, (she) 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.”
"Bjorn (Baker) has said for a long time that he (Warwoven) could be one of those special horses that don't come around too often. He's proving him right so far." - Luke Hilton
The winner of six of his nine starts to date, Warwove remains in the nominations for the G1 Cox Plate, where he has been allotted a featherlight 49.5kg.
Sales: Warwoven was purchased by Ridgmont, Bjorn Baker Racing, S & J Gosling, and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $380,000 from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Warwoven is the first foal out of the Group 2-winning mare Needle And Thread (Makfi {GB}). Needle And Thread is a half-sister to the late Listed winner and multiple Group 1-placed stallion Savile Row (NZ), and aother 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 has a 2-year-old and yearling by Farnan to follow, and has crossed back across the Tasman this spring to visit Sword Of State again.
Satono Glow beats the boys in the Roman Consul
She was the lone filly in a field of colts vying to furnish their stud resumes, but that was of no concern to Satono Glow (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) as she swept home to win the G2 Roman Consul Stakes at Rosehill for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
The last start winner of the G3 Poseidon Stakes, Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) jumped the favourite and took the lead as the field turned for home.
The Extreme Choice colt seemed to have it in the bag until the closing furlong, where Satono Glow let rip, devouring his margin and passing him to claim victory by a length and a third. Steel Will (I Am Invincible) came hard along the rail to finish second, with another quarter-length separating third-placed Why So Hard (All Too Hard) ahead of Paradoxium in fourth.
"She's a very, very good filly,'' O'Shea said. "He's a good colt (Paradoxium), so for her to run him down, it was a big effort.''
"He's a good colt (Paradoxium), so for her (Satono Glow) to run him down, it was a big effort." - John O'Shea
The G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes had already been circled as the filly’s big goal this spring, and with the Roman Consul’s prior form one to follow - with recent winners Switzerland, Brazen Beau, and Zoustar going on to claim the 1200-metre Group 1 - she continues on that path.
“We wanted to see where we fit in, she's ticked every box so far, and this race traditionally has always provided good form for the Coolmore,'' O'Shea said. "I thought she did a good job first-up (winning the Listed Cap D’Antibes Stakes) and then she has had a little tick-over trial.
Satono Glow winning the G2 Roman Consul Stakes | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
"It has all worked nicely so far so hopefully we can have a good next three weeks and turn up in Melbourne to give a good account of herself.''
The filly has been well backed from the start by some of the country’s leading breeders and owners, with her ownership including the likes of Werrett Bloodstock, Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia, Bangaloe Stud, and Richard Pegum.
Sales: Satono Glow was purchased for NZ$260,000 by O’Shea Charlton Racing and James Bester Bloodstock from the Windsor Park Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: Satono Glow is out of Electrode (NZ) (Pins), a winning half-sister to Group winner So Wotif (Iffraaj {GB}) and stakes winner Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}). This makes Satono Glow a half-sister to multiple Group performer Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High).
Electrode has progeny by Profondo and Ace High to follow, and visited Circus Maximus (Ire) last spring.
Proxima Dea maintains unbeaten streak with gutsy Gloaming win
David Payne’s progressive filly Proxima Dea (Tarzino {NZ}) stretched her winning streak to four after prevailing in a tight finish in the G3 Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.
Having won out to 1800 metres at her most recent start, the filly jumped as the favourite in the Group 3 event over the same distance but the lead was taken up by second pick Cormier (Maurice {Jpn). The colt held onto his lead into the home straight, with Proxima Dea having to find clear air out wide.
It was in the last 100 metres that the race tightened, with Wonka (Snitzel), Scarole (Ole Kirk), and Proxima Dea coming hard for Cormier’s lead. Under the urgings of Zac Lloyd, the filly managed to stretch out in front at the line, with Wonka behind her by a neck and Scarole just a nose further back in third. Cormier missed the placings by a whisker.
"She is so game and just keeps coming,” said Payne. “She doesn't know when to give up. She will even be better once you go out over further, too.
"She (Proxima Dea) is so game and just keeps coming. She doesn't know when to give up." - David Payne
"I know she is nothing to look at. When you look at her everyone bags her, me included. The owner says 'she is beautiful' and I say 'where? She is ugly'. But she has guts!''
Payne indicated that the G1 Spring Champion Stakes on October 24 was the next target for the filly, before taking aim at the G1 VRC Oaks over Cup week.
"This was her first run for six weeks, she has had a bit of a spell between runs and there is improvement to come for the Spring Champion,'' Payne said. "She's a very good filly, very tough, and will be even better when she gets out to the Oaks trip.''
Proxima Dea winning the G3 Gloaming Stakes | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
It was a plan that Lloyd was quite enthusiastic about.
“She will be in with a great chance,'' Lloyd said. "That race today was not run to suit her at all. They went very steady, I got onto heels into the first bend. I wasn't as smooth as I would have liked and I can do a better job in the Spring Champion or the Oaks, so for her to still win, she's just so strong late.
"She (Proxima Dea) is going to eat up 2000 metres." - Zac Lloyd
"She is going to eat up 2000 metres and eventually an Oaks trip.”
Proxima Dea is only the third filly to strike in the race’s near 50-year history, and the first since Constant Flight (Military Plume {NZ}) took out the race in 1993. Inaugural Gloaming winner Kapalaran (Showdown {GB}) was also an unbeaten winner when striking in 1978.
Sales: Proxima Dea was purchased for $300,000 by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the North Bloodstock draft at the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: By the G1 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino (NZ), Proxima Dea is a full sister to G1 Queensland Oaks victress Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), who placed twice more at Group 1 level amongst Sydney’s autumn 3-year-old classics and was third in the $10 million Golden Eagle.
Proxima Dea is out of the unraced Redoute's Choice mare Invisible Coin, who has left six winners in total, including the four-time winner and Listed-placed Bitcoin (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}). Invisible Coin is a full sister to the Group 1 winner Cheeky Choice (Redoute's Choice) and is related to the Listed-winning sprinter Blondeau (I Am Invincible).
Invisible Coin has since left a weanling colt by Anamoe and delivered a Cylinder colt in September.
First stakeswinner for Profiteer as Fraudster captures Barneswood
Newgate Farm’s second season sire Profiteer welcomed his first stakes winner, and one at Group level to boot, with the performance of Fraudster in the G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton on Saturday.
Despite being lumped with barrier 11, the Ken Rae-trained gelding jumped well enough to take up a frontrunning position, with the fierce pace urged along by jockey Jack Taplin. Given the kick turning for home, Fraudster accelerated immediately and dashed over the line to win by just over two lengths ahead of Cool As Bling (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), with On Piste (NZ) (Ace High) another three quarters of a length away in third.
Rae’s daughter Krystal Williams represented her father after the race and was full of praise for the performance of both horse and jockey.
“He went a huge race last time and I thought he would have to be thereabouts today,” Williams said.
“The idea was to actually sit behind the speed, but once he got to the front, Jack rated him really well.”
"Once he (Fraudster) got to the front, Jack rated him really well." - Krystal Williams
The gelding will be prepared for the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas on November 14 as his spring grand finale.
Sales: Ken Rae Stables purchased Fraudster for NZ$19,000 out of Wentwood Grange’s Book 2 draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree: From the first crop of R. Listed Inglis Millennium Profiteer, Fraudster is the first foal out of Listed Castletown Stakes victress Danger Strykes (NZ) (Astern), a half-sister to G1 Australian Derby runner-up Virtuous Circle (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
Fraudster winning the G3 Barneswood Farm Stakes | Image courtesy of Race Images
Danger Strykes is a granddaughter of Listed Maribyrnong Trial winner Fashion Victim (Rory’s Jester), a half-sister to G3 Bunbury Cup and Listed Pinjarra Cup winner Celestial Show (Serheed {USA}) from the close family of two-time G3 Summoned Stakes winner Rumbled Again (Night Of Thunder {Ire}).
A full sister to Fraudster just turned two, and Danger Strykes has a yearling filly by Gold Trip (Fr) and a colt born this spring by Henry Longfellow (Ire) also to come. She was served by Toronado (Ire) in September.
Juvenile action abounds as Venus Invicta builds Magic Millions credentials
The 2-year-olds were out across three tracks on Saturday, and Kelly Schweida’s Venus Invicta (Capitalist) was the runaway victress of the opening $85,000 800-metre juvenile race at Eagle Farm, despite last minute drama when playing up right before the start, resulting in jockey Martin Harley being briefly evicted from the saddle.
Back under control, the filly scorched home without being asked to go full throttle, leaving her rivals in the dust by a length and three quarters.
"It was her first day at school and I will forgive her for what happened before the start, she has got a very big engine," Harley said. "I have ridden this filly in a trial and she was really professional and I really liked her. But she did get herself a little bit worked up today.
"I would love that Magic Millions 2-year-old race, that would be great. There was plenty left and her ears pricked in the last couple of hundred metres, I didn't go for my stick (whip) and I just educated her."
"There was plenty left and her (Venus Invicta's) ears pricked in the last couple of hundred metres." - Martin Harley
Schweida, who trains Grafterburners (Graff) in the same vibrant orange colours, confirmed that the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic was certainly on his radar.
"I will give her a couple of weeks off and hopefully get her ready for the Magic Millions," he said. "I was quite surprised to see her so short in betting, even though she won like a short-priced favourite in the end.
"They can have trials on heavy tracks and they can have good track jumpouts, they come from all sorts of different places. But she was really good today.”
The sharp-looking Zanardi (NZ) (Spirit Of Boom) got his career off to a flying start when taking out the NZ$65,000 850-metre 2-year-old race that kicked off Hastings’s card on Saturday.
Carrying the Te Akau Racing colours, he flashed home to win by a length and a half over Aquila Veloce (Capitalist), who just beat stablemate Don Guiseppe (NZ) (Ardrossan) home for second.
Over at Ascot, Unite And Conquer gelding Albirex flashed home to claim his maiden victory for Darren McAuliffe over 1000 metres in the $80,000 juvenile event. The Impressive Racing-owned gelding proved too slick for seven rivals, tearing home to win by three quarters of a length over Malastar (Tiger Of Malay) and the favourite All That Class (Aysar).
Sales: Schweida purchased Venus Invicta at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $110,000 in January, where she was offered by Cressfield.
Zanardi was a NZ$280,000 Karaka purchase for Sir David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from breeder Cambridge Stud.
Albirex is a homebred for Impressive Racing, who purchased his dam Niigata (Reset) for $20,000 in a 2023 Inglis Digital sale.
Pedigree: Venus Invicta is a daughter of Dream Of Venus (I Am Invincible), herself a winning daughter of R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Real Surreal (Real Saga), whose half-brother Benny’s Buttons (Refuse To Bend {Ire}) won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate.
Dream Of Venus has a yearling colt by Bivouac to sell next year, and she delivered another colt by the sire in late August.
Zanardi’s dam Pazienza (Written Tycoon) is a half to Group performer Folk Dress (Pierro), out of a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner La Chunga (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), whose Listed-winning daughter Roheryn (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has built a remarkable record for herself as the dam of G1 Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) and the Group winners Defiantly (Fr) (Kameko {USA}) and Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}).
Pazienza will have a Sword Of State filly to sell in 2027, and visited the same sire last year.
Albirex’s dam Niigata was a four-time winner in Western Australia, and her dam Shibata (Testa Rossa) is an unraced sister to four stakes winners led by G1 Epsom Handicap winner Hauraki (Reset) and G1 South Australian Derby winner Kidnapped (Viscount). This family has also produced G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration of War {USA}). Niigata has colts by Awesome Rock and Gingerbread Man to follow.
