The sky is the limit

Chief among the results from Saturday is the now massive stallion-potential of Warwoven (Sword Of State) who answered every question with a dominant victory in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m). The colt’s rider Rachel King was in awe post race, exclaiming: “I have never sat on a horse like this.”

In advance of the $3 million race the story was about the friendly rivalry between the trainers of the two favoured runners. Warwoven’s Bjorn Baker and Trent Busuttin, trainer of Blind Raise (Ace High), have known each other since they were schoolboys. Their fathers trained in the lower half of the North Island so the lads essentially grew up together, and learned their trade together by watching and working for their successful fathers.

King gave Warwoven the best possible trip. Fifth, one off the fence, keeping the leaders in view, set up a perfect run. Prior to straightening she asked the colt to go forward. It was as if King knew that Blind Raise would kick from the straight entrance and that’s exactly what transpired. Putting the first time left-handed issue to bed, Warwoven cruised alongside Blind Raise at the 150m and they drew clear. Blind Raise rallied bravely but to no avail as Warwoven surged into the lead to score clearly.

Except for a dead-heat, there can only be one winner and Warwoven’s consecutive Group 1 wins and six-from-nine record have propelled him into the stratosphere. The Magic Millions graduate, costing $380,000, has banked a few thousand shy of $3 million.

Warwoven looks to have inherited his powers of acceleration from his sire Sword Of State (Snitzel) whose six wins were all sprints and whose female line is chock full of speed, including early speed. None of Sword Of State’s first four dams won beyond 1250m and all were successful as two-year-olds.

Distaff-wise, Warwoven’s dam won a Group 2 at 2000m, his grandam claimed a 2200m win while his great-grandam Gold Dodger (Slew O’ Gold) was a Longchamp Listed winner at 2000m. Gold Dodger’s half-sister Solemia (Poliglote) landed the 2012 running of the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m). Their half-brothers are Prospect Wells (Sadler’s Wells) and Prospect Park (Sadler’s Wells), both high class French Group quality stayers.

Successful sires from his dam’s line include Green Dancer (Nijinsky), Makfi (Dubawi) and Authorized (Montjeu). Interestingly, Makfi is also the sire of his dam Needle And Thread, winner of Ellerslie’s Royal Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m). Based purely on blood there appears to be no reason why Warwoven won’t get 2000m and upon retirement, strong sire potential. The sky is the limit.

Next stop is likely Flemington. In any other year the next stop would have been Moonee Valley but that track’s complete realignment and refurbishment sees the time-honoured WS Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, transferred to Flemington. The quirky layout of the old Moonee Valley course required a different set of tactics. Gone forever is making a run from “the school”, much earlier than at most tracks due to the short 200m home straight. Flemington is the exact opposite. Runs are delayed until “the clock tower” , such is the 500m length of the Flemington straight which will suit Warwoven’s racing pattern.

New Zealand’s stud book featured prominently in the bloodlines of the three placegetters. Warwoven was foaled in Australia yet conceived in New Zealand, being by Cambridge Stud’s exciting young sire Sword Of State (Snitzel). Needle And Thread was also conceived in New Zealand but foaled in Australia.

Blind Raise was foaled in New Zealand and is by Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High (High Chaparral) and third placed Call Me Coach is by another High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) stallion, Kiwi-bred champion Dundeel.

Different double

Apparently the track is not important. The best middle distance galloper in New Zealand, Waitak (Proisir), can win at Group 1 level anywhere. His elite wins have taken place at four different tracks and on practically any surface. Be it a Good 4 or a Heavy 9, Waitak delivers.

This time last year the Hastings track was out of commission forcing NZTR to schedule the Howden Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Te Rapa and the Livamol Classic at Ellerslie. Two tracks, same result and Waitak’s demolition of Ellerslie’s Livamol was a huge result given that he had many lengths to make up in the straight yet blew his opponents away by more than five lengths.

Fast forward 12 months and the same two races were back at their traditional home, Hastings. Waitak had little to spare in the 2026 version of the head-up-head-down finish to the Howden Mile but a win is a win.

For the spring feature Group 1, from the back half of the field but away from the rail at the 800m, Waitak then drifted. Craig Grylls woke him up at the 600m but they were widest and shared last rounding into the straight. Similar to the 2025 Livamol, he had his work cut out when giving the leaders a big start but a cool and collected Grylls allowed the now five-times Group 1 champion time to balance.

At the 200m it looked like Tuxedo (Tivaci) had the race sewn up. At the 100m Tuxedo’s lead was still more than two lengths but Waitak’s momentum was undeniable as he gobbled up Tuxedo well short of the line to win going away by a length, taking the gelding’s earnings beyond $2.3 million from ten wins in 41 starts.

Grylls critiqued his ride: “It wasn’t the prettiest way of doing it and we got further back than I anticipated. I thought I’d be better keeping him out in the open and rolling,” said Grylls. “I saw Tuxedo put a gap on us but at the 250m I was confident he was going to pick him up.”

Last year, Waitak’s co-trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott freshened Waitak and almost nailed Trentham’s early December Mufhasa Classic (Gr 1, 1600m) by a nose. The 7YO is in fine form and everything points to a similar program. He could well go one better this season.

Proper racehorse

Among the country’s premier sprinters is War Princess (U S Navy Flag), winner of Saturday’s Spring Sprint (Gr 3, 1400m). The 4YO mare, who represents her sire’s third crop, has found the best form of her career and her most recent win was by far her best yet, gaining the attention of the stewards in their day’s report as she raced three wide, without cover, for the entire journey. She had plenty of excuses had she been beaten.

The description “brave” doesn’t do her justice because after being trapped deep she levelled up at the 100m then had the audacity to stretch her neck short of the line for a truly gutsy win, her third in succession (all three days of the Hastings spring carnival) and her eighth overall from 14 starts.

“I couldn’t get in and was wide the whole way,” said rider Craig Grylls. “She really had to find something. It was a tough performance and she is a proper racehorse in the making.”

War Princess was a dual winner at two, her first two starts, and at three added three more in the spring including the Eulogy Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m). These last three wins have brought her earnings total to $471,610, a healthy return on the $77,500 outlayed at the 2024 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales, from Haunui Farm’s Book 2 draft. She is one of three winners from her unraced dam Royal Appellant (Keeper) whose half-sister Spamalot (Stravinsky) is the dam of Sydney Group 3 winner Verona (Belardo). The best performer in her family is her fifth dam, champion and five-times Group 1 winner Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).

Too speedy

It took Fraudster (Profiteer) 400m to find the lead in Ashburton’s War Decree Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) but thereafter he was simply too speedy, leading them a merry dance to score easily, his third win and maiden stakes win in seven starts. He is the first Stakes winner for Newgate stallion Profiteer.

He took four starts to break his maiden, at Ruakaka in August, but has now landed three wins in his last four starts to signal that he cannot be counted out in next month’s New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), clearly the target.

Purchased for just $19,000 from Wentwood Grange’s 2025 Book 2 draft at the NZB Karaka Yearling Sales, Fraudster’s win brings his earnings to $91,485. He is the first foal of two-year-old Listed winner Danger Strykes (Astern) whose half-brother Virtuous Circle (Almanzor) placed second in the 2022 Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m).

Barometer

Te Rapa this week might be a partial barometer of the New Zealand breeding industry. New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale, which now has a history exceeding 45 years, will conduct the breeze ups at Te Rapa racecourse. The sale does not take place until next month but the breeze ups offer buyers great insight into their possible purchases. The sale itself consistently provides big race winners plus timely spring results in Australia provide additional boost.

A third rail is the weak New Zealand dollar, offering Australian agents and trainers essentially a 20% discount. This week at Te Rapa, activity, whether from agents directly or agents acting as spies for trainers, should be keen. Karaka next month should be teeming with buyers from across the pond.

Two results from Saturday’s Randwick meeting may well have significant influence at Karaka as 3YO fillies Proxima Dea (Tarzino) and Satono Glow (Satono Aladdin) both flew the New Zealand flag in splendid fashion.

Proxima Dea is proving to be one tough filly, exemplified by her performance in the Gloaming Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m). With 100m to run she appeared beaten and was no chance. Battling, she pinned her ears back and somehow drove her head between runners to get up by a head to remain unbeaten in four starts.

The filly, a sister to Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) winner Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino) who also scored a Group 3 when unbeaten in her first four starts, gets the job done no matter what. She does just enough to get to the post first. The total of her winning margins is less than three-quarters of a length spread over four finishes.

Satono Glow has quickly established herself as the sprint find of the spring as she took her record to four wins in five starts, this latest, the Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) her first at Group 2 level to add to two Group 3s. With 200m to run second looked likely but she gathered in the leader with ease then booted clear. This is one serious filly and with a previous Flemington straight course win to her credit, the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) is next.

Her bank account is well into the black with earnings of $487,660 against her purchase price of $260,000 from Windsor Park Stud’s Book 1 draft at the 2025 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales.

Next month’s Ready To Run Sale features 16 lots by Proisir (Choisir), 12 lots each by Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact), Sword Of State (Snitzel) and Tarzino, (Tavistock) and three by U S Navy Flag (War Front).