Cambridge Stud based Sword Of State has the best 3YO colt in Australia with Warwoven going back-to-back in two of Australia’s most prestigious three-year-old races, adding the $3 million Group I Sportsbet Caulfield Guineas (1600m) to his last-start success in the Group I Golden Rose (1400m) in Sydney.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven was a stunning three-length winner of the Golden Rose on September 26, instantly commanding the attention of studs across Australia. On Saturday his profile soared even higher as he joined current leading sires The Autumn Sun (2018) and Ole Kirk (2020) as the third colt to complete the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double.
The Caulfield Guineas was Warwoven’s first mission to Melbourne, making his first start left-handed and stepping up to 1600m for the first time. Among those standing in his way was the New Zealand-bred Blind Raise, who had confirmed his place at the top of the pecking order among Melbourne’s three-year-olds with dominant victories in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1300m) and Gr.3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).
After proving to be a handful on the way to the start, Warwoven settled into a smooth rhythm for regular rider Rachel King in fifth place.
Blind Raise set the pace and was still full of running coming into the home turn, but King angled Warwoven to the outside at the top of the straight and put the leader in the crosshairs.
Warwoven moved through his gears and drew alongside Blind Raise, who to his credit kept fighting and kept lifting. But in the end Warwoven had too much class, edging ahead to beat the gallant Ace High gelding by a length and three-quarters. The third-placed Call Me Coach was more than three lengths behind the first pair.
WARWOVEN YOU ARE A SUPERSTAR ???? RACHEL KING PRODUCES A PEARLER TO WIN THE CAULFIELD GUINEAS ?? @RachelK11 @BBakerRacing https://t.co/p3aPI7XQk5
— 7HorseRacing ?? (@7horseracing) October 10, 2026
“He leaves me speechless, this horse,” King said, who has ridden Warwoven in every on eof his race starts and barrier trials..
“He’s unbelievable. There were a few question marks today. We didn't know how he'd handle going this way around, and Caulfield’s not an easy track to come to, first time the Melbourne way. But he's just got so much class and he was still arrogant again.
“I know a lot of people said, ‘How can he peak again?’ But I don't think he has peaked. I think there's still more there.
“I've certainly never sat on a horse like this, and he’s pretty unbelievable.”
Warwoven has won six of his nine starts and A$2.98 million in stakes.
“It is a bit emotional, actually,” said Baker’s stable representative Luke Hilton. “There was a bit more pressure today. There was more excitement in Sydney, but there was a fair bit of pressure with him today.
“The race probably didn’t pan out how we thought. Incredible ride by Rachel, who had her wits about her. She knew what she had under her, and when she hadn’t moved on him on the corner, I thought he must be travelling well.
“He’s an outstanding colt. Bjorn has said for a long time that he could be one of those special horses that don’t come around too often. He’s proving him right so far.
“Trent Busuttin’s horse (Blind Raise), he really fought hard, so it was a great win.
“Jim Clarke and the sales team have done a fantastic job. He’s by a first-season sire in Sword Of State, and they bought a beautiful colt.”
Warwoven is the clear headline act among the eight winners so far sired by Sword Of State, who commands a $50,000 service fee at Cambridge Stud.
A $380,000 Magic Millions purchase from Kia Ora for Ridgmont/Bjorn Baker Racing/S & J Gosling /Clarke Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Warwoven runs for an ownership group that includes Ridgmont in whose colours he runs with Kia Ora also retaining an interest.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud, he is the first foal of Group II winner Needle and Thread, who comes from an elite European female packed with quality stayers, so this guy has a real mix of Aussie speed and stamina on the page.
His first four dams all won up to at least 2000m and three of the four are stakes-winners which tells you Warwoven is not short on class or stamina.
The second foal of Needle and Thread is a colt by Farnan that was sold as a weanling for $65,000 and then again by Blue Gum Farm at MM National Yearling Sale this year for $150,000 to Kendrick Racing/Kariba Racing.
Purchased by Kia Ora Stud online through Gavelhouse from the Valachi Downs Dispersal for $410,000, Needle and Thread produced a filly by Farnan for Kia Ora last spring, but missed subsequently so will have no foal this year. She is currently back in New Zealand to be covered again by Sword of State.
It’s not just Sword of State that deserves the plaudits for Saturday’s Golden Rose success. Warwoven’s dam Needle And Thread is back in NZ and has a story of her own. @kiaorastud https://t.co/B1rS6dcoAr
— Cambridge Stud (@CambridgeStud) September 30, 2026
