With just one of the eleven starters behind him inside the 200m, Warning's supporters would have all but sold out on the 2019 Group 1 Victoria Derby hero returning to the winners circle in Saturday's Group III JRA Chairman's Trophy (2000m) at Doomben.
One person not to give up was his jockey Jim Byrne who cajoled the 4yo son of Declaration Of War (USA) to his first win since taking the Classic at Flemington 80 weeks back.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, Warning defeated the 6yo So You Think gelding So You Win by a head with the 7yo Casino Prince gelding The Candy Man a further half-length back in third.
Bred by The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, Warning advances his record to three wins, a second and three thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $1,758,650.
Stable representative Brad Taylor said Warning was very disappointing in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington in March before noticing an improvement leading up to his last start fifth at Flemington.
"He was left flat-footed the other day but worked home nicely," Taylor said.
"It was the first time I have seen him since coming here and he just looked fantastic. He improved off his last run and the warm weather has done the trick to get him back in the winner's stall for the first time since the derby.
"He is the most relaxed horse you will ever meet. He has been like that since he was a 2yo, even as a colt."
A $65,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase for Sam Freedman and De Burgh Equine from the draft of Mill Park Stud, Warning is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the winning Galileo mare Livia.
"From the famed Arundel Farm family descending from Court Fantasy (GB), Livia is out of the stakes-placed Flying Spur mare Flying Spice a half-sister to stakes-winner Chattanooga, and to the dams of Real Stolle and Tindal.
Livia has a yearling colt by Free Eagle (IRE), who Nxt Level Syndication purchased for $150,000 out of the Mill Park draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
After missing to Pierro in 2019, Livia was covered by American Pharoah (USA) last spring.
