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Racing

Baker sweating on Warwoven Slipper start

Trainer Bjorn Baker is hoping he doesn't need to run leading Golden Slipper contender Warwoven in the Group 3 $250,000 Pago Pago Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The star juvenile has been nominated for the Pago Pago but Baker would prefer not to start the colt just seven days before the Golden Slipper.

WARWOVEN winning the Tab Plate - Betting Odds at Randwick in Australia.
WARWOVEN winning the Tab Plate - Betting Odds at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Bradley Photos
But Warwoven has earned "only" $156,750 from his three starts and in the latest Golden Slipper order of entry, the colt is no certainty of squeezing into the 16-horse Slipper field.

"I've nominated Warwoven and we will weigh up what we have to do,'' Baker said.

"I would prefer not to run in the Pago Pago but it is not the end of the world if we do start him on Saturday.''

Warwoven, brilliant winner of his first two starts, resumed off a two-month break due to a training setback and ran fourth, beaten a half length in Campione D'Italia's Skyline Stakes at Randwick.

Baker maintains Warwoven has taken considerable improvement from that run.

"We always knew he would come on from that race,'' Baker said.

"Obviously, you always want to win but there was merit in his effort, he ran well.''

Warwoven had been the long-time Golden Slipper favourite at $6 until being replaced at the top of betting by stablemate Paradoxium who firmed into $5 after the colt's brilliant win in the Todman Stakes last Saturday.

Paradoxium contracted pneumonia earlier in the season and had nearly three months out before his runaway Todman win.

PARADOXIUM winning the DARLEY TODMAN STAKES at Randwick in Australia.
PARADOXIUM winning the DARLEY TODMAN STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Bradley Photos
"He's a very talented two-year-old so I was not particularly surprised he won so well,'' Baker said.
"The race worked out beautifully for him and importantly he didn't have a gut-buster. He's pulled up in great order.''

Baker also confirmed Caballus will be aimed at the $5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot on April 18 after giving the trainer his 11th Group 1 win in the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington last Saturday.

Caballus, who led throughout to win the Newmarket, has been selected by Ram Racing for the Quokka.

"We will give Caballus an easy week and freshen him up for Perth,'' Baker said.

Trainer : BJORN BAKER after, PARADOXIUM winning the DARLEY TODMAN STAKES
Trainer : BJORN BAKER after, PARADOXIUM winning the DARLEY TODMAN STAKES Picture: Martin King / Sportpix
Baker has already won The Quokka twice with Overpass (2023-24) and his $12 million earner will barrier trial over 900m at Rosehill on Tuesday ahead of a return to racing in the Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on April 4.

Although Overpass didn't win a race in six starts last year, he was very competitive at the top level of Australian sprinting with a second placing to Briasa in the TJ Smith, a fourth in Ka Ying Rising's Everest, then successive placings in the Winterbottom Stakes (second) and Gold Rush (third).

There is some talk about returning to Perth for a fourth start in The Quokka – he ran fifth in the race last year – but Baker said his immediate focus is to have the seven-year-old first-up specialist at his peak for the TJ Smith on Day One of The Championships.

OVERPASS winning the TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES at Randwick in Australia.
OVERPASS winning the TOYOTA FORKLIFTS SYDNEY STAKES at Randwick in Australia. Picture: Steve Hart
"All we are worrying about for now is the TJ,'' Baker said.
"We plan to do a bit with him in the Rosehill trial tomorrow. I'm really happy with how he is coming up, he's going really well.''


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