Sydney colt Warwoven claimed the $3 million Caulfield Guineas on Saturday, narrowly defeating local favourite Blind Raise to secure a $1.8 million winner’s prize. The victory marked a notable achievement for New Zealand-born trainer Bjorn Baker, who earned bragging rights over his longtime friend and rival Trent Busuttin, the co-trainer of Blind Raise alongside Natalie Young.

Warwoven, starting as the $2.40 favourite, overcame a strong early challenge from Blind Raise and outsider Seraphox. Blind Raise set a demanding pace at the front, contending with pressure from Seraphox until the latter diminished on the home turn and finished 18 lengths behind the winner. Baker praised Blind Raise’s effort, describing it as “enormous,” and acknowledged the pressure his colt faced. He also expressed concern mid-race, noting he thought Warwoven might have reached his peak during the stretch. However, Warwoven’s stamina prevailed in the final 150 metres as he surged ahead to complete the highly regarded double of the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas, boosting his record to six wins from nine starts.

Jockey Rachel King, who has ridden Warwoven in all his races, highlighted the colt’s exceptional talent despite some uncertainty about how he would handle Caulfield’s track and the direction of the racecourse. She described him as a "once-in-a-lifetime" horse with considerable class and potential that may not yet have been fully realized. Baker indicated he would monitor Warwoven’s recovery before deciding whether to target the $6 million Cox Plate at Flemington on October 24.

Blind Raise’s rider Blake Shinn responded to the runner-up finish with professionalism, calling it a “very good effort” and acknowledging the quality of the winner. Meanwhile, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Call Me Coach finished strongly to secure third place ahead of Central Europe. Call Me Coach’s rider Mark Zahra expressed optimism about his mount’s future, citing the colt’s promising finishing run and suggesting more victories could be forthcoming.

The race drew attention for its competitive field and the display of emerging talent, underscoring Warwoven’s status as one of the standout three-year-olds of the season. Both connections and observers recognized the high calibre of the contest and the impressive performances of the leading horses.