![Warwoven and Rachel King demolish their rivals in the Group 1 Golden Rose at Rosehill. [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2366325.jpg)
It says everything about Warwoven’s versatility that Baker was considering races across such a varying distance range – although he can’t contest all three.
But Warwoven’s runaway win in the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday was so exceptional, the colt now has a $30 million price tag and Baker can afford to dream big.
“A lot of form analysts out there, you are allowed your own opinion, that is what makes our game so great,” Baker said.
“But I thought this colt was right in it, I didn’t want to look at the odds, I didn’t want to back him, there was too much riding on it.
“He’s a serious horse and we are looking at the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), even the Cox Plate (2040m) – team get on now, we will get overs.
“His mother was very good at 2000m, he relaxed beautifully today but one step at a time.”
WARWOVEN POWERS AWAY WITH THE GOLDEN ROSE 🌹
A DOMINANT DISPLAY FROM A STAR COLT ⭐@RachelK11 @BBakerRacing pic.twitter.com/1uCi1YQ3Ch
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 26, 2026
But away from the glare of the TV cameras and microphones, Baker was a little more circumspect and didn’t rule out The Everest (1200m).
“I would say The Everest is doubtful but we will see what happens,” Baker said.
“When you have a colt this good, you have to consider all the options.”
Baker said he has ridden racing’s rollercoaster of emotions with Warwoven this year.
“It is an amazing game, racing,” Baker said. “It is the best game in the world and I don’t say that lightly.
“We were in the hurt locker about January 14 when he was scratched from the Magic Millions on the morning of (the race).
“But you don’t panic, you have great people around you, they pick you up and you can be here and win a Group 1 – he’s a stallion now.”
In one of the most dominant wins in the history of the Golden Rose, Warwoven ($6), ridden by Rachel King, streaked away to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths from St Gotthard ($3.70) with Under Focus ($12) a half head away third.
Golden Slipper winner Guest House was backed into $2.45 favouritism but after getting into a bumping duel with the runner-up mid-race he could only finish sixth, just behind Tenenbaum (fourth) and Tron Bolt (fifth).
Zac Lloyd, rider of Guest House, said the incident with St Gotthard ended his colt’s winning chances.
“The first half of the race went alright and we got onto the back of Warwoven which I thought was a good play,” Lloyd said.
“Then just when the pace dropped out of the race around the side, he got a bit keen on the heels of Warwoven, then we had a little bump with St Gotthard and it took a bit of ‘gas’ out of him.”
But all honours were with Warwoven who was in a different race than his rivals in the final 300m of the Golden Rose.
“He was (dominant), he’s very good, but we know he’s very good, and it was just very satisfying for him to go out there and do that today,” King said.
“I thought I’d either be leading or the leader’s back. It’s difficult when your husband (Bjorn Baker’s racing manager, Luke Hilton) gives you part of the instructions, and he says, ‘whatever you do, don’t be three-back the fence’ and I was like, I’m testing him a little bit here’.
“But he’s a very good horse. There was enough tempo on, there was enough pressure. He just put his head down and relaxed and was beautiful in the run.
“We know he’s got an awesome turn of foot, and I was desperate to get him up over this kind of distance and probably even further. He’s proven that he’s the real deal today.”
King completed a stakes race double for the Baker stable after also riding So You Are to win the Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m).
For Baker, it was a memorable afternoon with a stakes race treble from So You Are and Blue Door’s Group 3 Heritage Stakes win complementing Warwoven’s win in the prestigious Group 1 Golden Rose.
“This is very special,” Baker said.
“I thought he paraded superbly, he’s so good looking, he’s so fast. I don’t even have to sell him, he sold himself.
“So many of my great friends are in this horse and you saw an amazing performance today.
“Rachel King, she’s got ice in her veins. She summed it up so well.
“All my team back at home, they are amazing to work with and we have fun every day.
“We go through the losses as a team, we take the wins as a team and I can tell you it is a pretty big team today.”
James McDonald, rider of the Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard, described his colt’s effort to finish fast for second as “outstanding.”
“The interference at the 800m, it was no one’s fault, it was just the horse came out when over-racing and took the wind out of me,” McDonald said.
“He never really recovered after that so for him to box on and run second like that was incredible. If I had the winner’s run I would have given the race a shake.”
Racing NSW stewards did issue McDonald with a reprimand for his role in the St Gotthard-Guest House bumping duel.
The Kris Lees-trained Under Focus ran gamely for third, underlining his reputation as a colt of real potential.
“Under Focus is still very raw but, gee, he travelled well at the top of the lane,” jockey Dylan Gibbons said.
“I was surprised when he got to them that the winner went that quick but he was very gallant in defeat.”
