Warwoven Notches Elite Double in Caulfield Guineas Win

Warwoven (AUS) now sits on top of the world as Australia's preeminent 3-year-old after becoming just the fourth horse to complete the Golden Rose (G1)-Caulfield Guineas (G1) double Oct. 10 at Caulfield Racecourse. And as stud farms circle for a colt whose value now may have breached the AU$30 million mark, a tilt at the AU$6 million Cox Plate (G1) in two weeks is on the cards for the Bjorn Baker-trained excitement machine. Sent out a well supported AU$2.40 favorite for one of the country's great stallion makers, he was ridden perfectly by Rachel King, who's been aboard for all nine starts for six wins. Blake Shinn bustled chief rival Blind Raise (NZ) toward the front from gate 2 of 11, but immediately his plans began to look troubled. First Tron Bolt (AUS) took him on in the lead, then the bolter Seraphox (AUS). Blind Raise was able to catch his breath with a couple of gentle middle sectionals, but the pressure that led to a second furlong of :10.58 and a third of :11.32 would still have to be paid for. King, meanwhile, settled Warwoven beautifully behind the fury in fifth place, and while Blind Raise gave his customary kick into the home straight, it was clear from before then he would face an almighty task to hold his rival out. Warwoven glided menacingly up to second entering the straight, still 2 lengths behind Blind Raise as the pair cleared out. Blind Raise tried valiantly to dig in and matched strides with Warwoven for 50 meters, but it was the Sydney colt who drew powerfully away, scoring by 1 3/4 lengths in a final time of 1:35.17 for 1,600 meters (about 1-mile) on good going. A further 3 1/4 lengths back, Anthony and Sam Freedman's colt Call Me Coach (AUS) claimed a first dash of black type in taking third for Pinecliff Racing. Central Europe (AUS) ran fourth as the first of Chris Waller's four runners home, all in succession. "He's an outstanding colt," said Baker's foreman Luke Hilton. "We've said for a long time he could be one of those special horses who don't come around too often, and he's proving it right so far." Stamping his stallion credentials, Warwoven joined a select and high-class band of three other horses to win the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double. Current gun sires The Autumn Sun (AUS) and Ole Kirk (AUS) achieved the feat in 2018 and 2020 respectively. Before that, the gelding In Top Swing won the double in 2003, before the Golden Rose had black-type status. Land Legend springs Might And Power shock Land Legend (FR) caused a major upset in Saturday's Might And Power Stakes (G1) at Caulfield when he denied AU$1.40 favorite Sheza Alibi (AUS) in a thrilling finish. Sent off at AU$61, the Ciaron Maher-trained gelding led throughout under Ethan Brown before holding off Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman's star mare by a short head, with Birdman (IRE) another 1 1/4 lengths away in third. The winner clocked a course-record 2:00.30 for the 2,000 meters (about 1 1/4 miles). Maher credited the firm Good 3 surface and a recent move from Cranbourne to his Ballarat base, where the gelding has benefited from working on the uphill gallop. "He ran his best race for us on a firm deck at Flemington and we thought with a muddling tempo we would go forward," Maher said. "We thought we would move him up there because he can be a bit unruly and we thought just doing a bit extra every day up that hill gallop would be ideal." Land Legend, who finished third in the 2024 Caulfield Cup (G1) before finishing last in the race 12 months later, could return for a third attempt, although Maher is also considering the Cox Plate. "So, whether he runs in a Caulfield Cup and a Cox Plate, or whether he runs in the Cox Plate, it's a good problem to have," Maher said. Sheza Alibi, meanwhile, is set to be freshened for the Golden Eagle (G1) at Randwick Oct. 31 following her first attempt at 2,000 meters. Rider Luke Nolen said he was far from disappointed by her performance on Saturday. "For a race of no speed we found a bit," Nolen said. "I came back to follow Birdman, she was good and solid through the line. "She's ticked that 2,000-meter box, just hopefully the run hasn't taken too much of a toll for the race in three weeks, but I was very proud of her today." Lady Shenandoah Takes Toorak Lady Shenandoah (AUS) provided a timely reminder of her elite ability—and that of jockey James McDonald—in breaking a drought to claim her fourth top tier success under the equal top weight in Saturday's Toorak Handicap (G1) at Caulfield. Waller's 5-year-old mare may have won three group 1s but came into the AU$1 million feature having not scored in 10 starts since the last of those, the Coolmore Classic Handicap (G1), in March 2025. And given a peach of a ride from McDonald, the Hermitage-owned mare ended her winning drought in a thrilling finish. Jumping from an awkward gate 9 of 15 at the tricky Caulfield 1,600-meter start, Lady Shenandoah was the fastest away before McDonald eased her to find an ideal spot, midfield one off the fence, as Regal Award (AUS) set a swift pace. McDonald nursed Lady Shenandoah around the bend with her big weight before gradually building her momentum, but the mare still looked in deep trouble down the running amid a wall of traffic in the middle of the ruck, still sitting eighth at the 200 meters. She bullocked admirably through a narrow gap at the 150 but still seemed to face a stiff challenge, as Welcometotheshow (AUS), in front of her, and Changing Colours (AUS), to her outside, unwound their finishes with formidable momentum and far lighter weights. But McDonald was able to lift his mount through the center in the shadows of the post, and she prevailed by a head in 1:34.50. Changing Colours took second while Welcometotheshow was third. "It's credit to a good horse and a good ride from James. That was one of the best you will ever see with the big weight and for a mare, that's massive," Waller said. "And then the wide draw, and to have a wall of horses in front of them turning for home. She's a really good horse and that's her fourth group 1 and she's done it in (a handicap). Not many horses do that in handicaps after three group 1s." McDonald was thrilled for Lady Shenandoah, who he said had been unlucky in her 10-race winless stretch that featured three seconds, two thirds, and four fourths. "Huge thrill. She hadn't won for a while and I keep saying to everyone that it's not that she doesn't try, she's got great tenacity, but she just hasn't had much luck and she's raced against the best horses in the land," McDonald said. Waller said Lady Shenandoah would likely concentrate on 1,400 to 1,600-meter races nowadays. He indicated her next start would likely come in the Oct. 31 Empire Rose Stakes (G1) at Flemington Racecourse.