Racing
Massive bet on Warwoven to win the Skyline Stakes
If money talks then a massive $50,000 wager on unbeaten two-year-old Warwoven suggests he will be running regardless of track conditions in the Group 2 $300,000 Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The Randwick track surface is still just in the soft (7) range and with "no substantial rain" on the radar, Australian Turf Club officials are confident the course proper will present well on raceday.
Unbeaten Warwoven is resuming off a setback which forced him out of the Magic Millions last month and although he hasn't had a barrier trial going into the Skyline, this hasn't stopped one TAB Fixed Odds punters from placing a $50,000 bet at $2 on the boom colt. He has eased slightly to $2.15 favouritism in latest betting.
Trainer Bjorn Baker admits there are concerns about starting Warwoven on a wet track but he is inclined to run his two-year-old.
"I am worried about the track as Warwoven is first-up after a break,'' Baker told Racing And Sports.
"But he has got good, residual fitness and at this stage he is going to start on Saturday – we need to get him underway.''
Warwoven puts his unbeaten record and Golden Slipper favouritism on the line in the Skyline Stakes.
Baker's brilliant youngster has won his only two starts and is the $6 favourite for the $5 million Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens on March 21.
Super mare Autumn Glow is also protecting a perfect race record – nine starts for nine wins – and is a dominant $1.30 favourite for the Group 1 $1 million Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m).
The likelihood of a soft-heavy track hasn't deterred one TAB Fixed Odds punter placing a sizeable bet of $30,000 at $1.30 on Autumn Glow to extend her unbeaten run to 10 wins.
ATC's General Manager of Racecourses Michael Wood said with an improving weather forecast there is every chance the Randwick track surface will stay in the soft range on Saturday.
"There has been no substantial rain at Randwick since before 9am,'' Wood said.
"We have had just over 50mm of rain in the last 24 hours but only light drizzle today.
"There is no substantial rain on the radar and the forecast suggests it will clear mid-morning tomorrow.
"I can't see the track being any worse than a heavy 8 but it is still a soft 7 for now.
"This track handles rain well and if the rain stops a couple of hours before the first, the track should be nice enough.''
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