Baker colts show class at three to put group 1 targets on radar

Warwoven tuned up for target race the Golden Rose and Paradoxium put his hand up for an Everest slot as Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker celebrated a group race interstate double with his three-year-old colts on Saturday.

Stakes winners at two despite setback in their campaigns, the pair starred with commanding victories on Saturday as Warwoven claimed the group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill and Paradoxium led all the way in the group 3 Poseidon Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.

Rachel King put Warwoven ($8), the Pago Pago Stakes winner, outside leader Castillo King from gate seven of 11, and he travelled well before holding out favourite St Gotthard by a neck. Under Focus was third.

It was a bounce-back performance from Warwoven, which was three lengths fifth first-up in the San Domenico Stakes (1100m) in Guest House’s track-record time win at Rosehill.

Baker assistant trainer Luke Hilton said the group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) in two weeks was always the target for Warwoven, which had come back bigger and stronger this preparation. He was $11 into $6 for the Golden Rose, where Guest House was a $2.80 favourite.

“We knew he was going really well,” Hilton said. “We were still a little bit disappointed first up, but when you sort of sat back and looked at it in isolation, he had gone really well.

“Rachel was very confident and very happy that he’d gone well, and he’d just come on from that run.

“He’s got good early speed when he needs it, and I like what Bjorn did with him first up because the idea was always to go to 1400.

“We wanted to make sure that he could take a sit and be restrained, which he sort of adapted to pretty well first up. So now we’re there with one to go.”

Earlier in the day, Paradoxium put its case forward for Yulong’s Everest slot with a front-running victory first-up at Flemington.

The Extreme Choice colt, bought by Yulong in March, controlled the straight race under Jason Collett and powered away late for a one-length win to add to his group 2 Todman Stakes success.

“He’s got a great attitude and a great action,” Baker said. “Speaking pre-race, I did everything but declare him.

“He was very good and he had to carry a little bit more weight than the others as well. Hopefully we can get back here for the Coolmore [Stud Stakes]. You dream, and you dream big.”

Hilton said Paradoxium would return home for the Roman Consul Stakes before heading back down for the Coolmore.