Warwoven earned a prized position in the Golden Slipper by taking out the Pago Pago Stakes.

Trainer Bjorn Baker now boasts two top chances for the Golden Slipper following Warwoven’s composed display to claim a berth via success in the Pago Pago Stakes.

With $5 joint favourite Paradoxium already secured in the lineup, Baker had little option but to enter Warwoven on Saturday to lock in his spot, and the colt obliged with a strong victory.

Having missed the Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast in January due to unrelated problems for each horse, Baker remained measured in his excitement but noted the satisfaction of seeing Warwoven rebound from his initial loss last time out.

“We’re not counting our chickens until he’s at the start line,” Baker said.

“But it was great to see him do that. He’s a promising horse. He had to do a bit of work early today, so hopefully he can peak next week.

“We’ve got to, first and foremost, see how he comes through, but two in the Slipper . . . very special.”

Warwoven faced a contentious withdrawal from the Magic Millions after Queensland Racing vets declared him lame, whereas Paradoxium’s preparation was halted by pneumonia.

Paradoxium demonstrated a full recovery with an impressive triumph in last week’s Todman Stakes, and Baker is optimistic that the earlier hurdles for both colts might turn out to be advantageous in the long run.

“I’ll tell you in about seven days and three hours,” he said.

“It could well be. It’s funny how things in this game, they have a funny way of working. You can be down and out, and it only takes one runner to get back on track.”

Sent off at $2.70, Warwoven tracked in second position before surging clear in the straight to prevail by a length over Outspan ($41), while the $2.20 favourite Central Europe finished a further half-head back in third.

The colt’s winning clock of 1:10.41 edged out the time posted by Pembrey in the earlier Magic Night Stakes (1200m).

Jockey Rachel King was thrilled by the colt’s advancement since his resuming fourth in the Skyline Stakes (1200m) and anticipates more to come ahead of the $5 million highlight next weekend.

“There’s more under the bonnet, and I think if he gets challenged, there’s even more under the bonnet than today,” King said.

“He’s very exciting.”

Warwoven has tightened from $9 to $7 in early betting for next Saturday’s Golden Slipper (1200m), with Baker affirming that King will keep the mount.

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