Turning bloodlines into headlines is synonymous with Kia Ora Stud, and the Hunter Valley nursery reinforced that reputation at Rosehill on Saturday when homebred juveniles Warwoven and Pembrey both produced stakes-winning performances to propel themselves into contention for this weekend’s G1 Golden Slipper.
Kia Ora bred the winners of both key two-year-old lead-ups on the programme, with Warwoven capturing the G3 Pago Pago Stakes and Pembrey, by their resident stallion Prague, earlier powering to victory in the G3 Magic Night Stakes.
Trained by Bjorn Baker and ridden by Rachel King, Warwoven secured his place in the Slipper field with a professional performance in the Pago Pago. The son of Sword Of State settled just off the speed before quickening strongly in the straight to defeat Outspan by a length, with Central Europe a close third.
The win marked a timely return to form for the colt, whose preparation was briefly interrupted earlier in the season when he was scratched from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic on veterinary advice. He resumed with a close fourth in the G2 Skyline Stakes before stepping up on Saturday to claim his first stakes victory and secure a ballot exemption for the Slipper.
Rachel King, who has partnered the colt in all four of his starts, believes there is still improvement to come.
“We would have been devastated if he wasn’t there, because as he’s proven today he deserves his spot," King commented.
“We knew he was going to be slightly underdone last start. We were hoping class would get us though, and probably the track brought us undone a touch. But he’s come out today and showed us what he can do."
Trainer Bjorn Baker was equally pleased with the performance.
“We’re not counting our chickens until he’s at the start line,” Baker said. “But it was great to see him do that. He’s a promising horse. He had to do a bit of work early today, so hopefully he can peak next week.
Warwoven was offered by Kia Ora Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $380,000 by Bjorn Baker Racing alongside Ridgmont, S & J Gosling and Clarke Bloodstock. He is the first foal out of the G2 Royal Stakes winner, Needle And Thread.
Earlier on the racecard, fellow Kia Ora-bred filly Pembrey delivered a dominant performance to claim the G3 Magic Night Stakes. Trained by Tony Gollan and ridden by James McDonald, the daughter of Prague controlled the race from the front before extending strongly in the straight to defeat Lumbini by 1.4 lengths.
"She's done well over the last two weeks in Sydney and to us it looks as though there's enough left in the tank to go again in seven days," Gollan said.
"We came to Sydney to run in the Golden Slipper so my gut feeling is to back up. We will see how she pulls up but I would imagine we will run her.''
Rider James McDonald was also full of praise for the filly and added, "I'm so happy I can make amends today and Tony was solid by keeping me on.
"I'm glad I could repay him and the connections because she's a beautiful filly."
"She began a lot cleaner today and I was alert to her this time. She lengthened well and really built through the gears.''
Pembrey was retained to race by Kia Ora and her victory carried additional significance for the Stud as the first stakes winner for her sire Prague who stands at Kia Ora Stallions.
Kia Ora Stud’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright said the result was a major milestone for the stallion.
“It's very exciting to see Pembrey become Prague’s first stakes winner. He’s a sire we’ve always had a lot of belief in, and for her to do it on a stage like this is rewarding for everyone involved with him," Wright said.
Out of the Group 2-winning mare Se Sauver, Pembrey is the first stakes winner and second stakes performer for her dam, who has produced eight winners and hails from the family of Escado and Amplify.
With Warwoven already locked in and Pembrey now also confirmed for the field, Kia Ora Stud looks set to wield significant influence in this weekend's Golden Slipper. For the Scone nursery, it’s a clear vindication of the programme behind two of the season’s most exciting juveniles and a timely reminder for buyers ahead of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Kia Ora is presenting 13 yearlings.
