Sydney jockey Rachel King is set to travel back to Melbourne to partner the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven in a crucial track gallop. This exercise is intended to provide the final confirmation needed for the colt’s potential start in the prestigious Cox Plate at Flemington.
King, who guided the three-year-old to victory in the Caulfield Guineas on October 10, recently visited Cranbourne on Friday morning to give Warwoven a light canter.
She is scheduled to return on Tuesday morning for a more significant gallop. This session will be pivotal in making the final decision regarding Warwoven’s participation in the Cox Plate (2000m) at Flemington this Saturday.
Warwoven emerged victorious over Blind Raise, a horse trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, in the Guineas. Warwoven has been stabled with the Busuttin/Young team since arriving in Melbourne the day before his Guineas triumph.
“I went in on Friday to give him a little canter around and I didn’t know if I would be allowed in the stable,” King humorously recalled. “They’re great. They look after Bjorn’s horses when they come down, and we look after theirs when they go to Sydney. Bjorn and Trent are pretty good friends, although that result might have tested the friendship a bit with this horse.”
King added, “I’ll be back down on Tuesday to gallop him as it’s more that I know him and to make sure he feels the same. If you put someone else on that hasn’t ridden him before, it’s tricky to tell where he’s at.”
According to King, Warwoven has made a strong recovery from his Guineas win and she is confident the colt still has untapped potential.
However, she acknowledges that the Cox Plate presents a considerably more challenging contest.
“I don’t think we’ve reached the ceiling with him yet, which is exciting,” King stated. “The Cox Plate is another different kettle of fish and we’re under no illusion that it a different ball game against the older horses. He does get that massive weight relief and this year being at Flemington it helps a little bit, for any of the three-year-olds, as it’s bit easier than getting around Moonee Valley as there’s not that added pressure of getting around that tight track. He’s by far the best hose I’ve sat on. It’s a privilege to be associated with a horse like that and we have to make the most of it while we can. He is a colt and we don’t know how long he will be around.”
The decision on Warwoven’s Cox Plate participation will be made after Tuesday’s gallop, with connections weighing the colt’s potential against the formidable competition. You can explore the latest racing odds at Australian betting sites.
