Sydney trainer Bjorn Baker has no fear of travelling south to tackle the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) with his star colt Warwoven at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on Saturday (10 October).

With a first prize of AU$1.8 million (approx. HK$9.8 million) in the AU$3 million (approx. HK$16.4 million) feature, the three-year-old has dominated pre-race discussions, ahead of the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Blind Raise, who has won his past two starts.

Warwoven also made it two in a row after winning the G1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill two weeks ago in such dominant fashion that Baker is thinking he might be a once-in-a-lifetime colt.

Baker has worked the son of Australian stallion Sword Of State left-handed to adapt to the Melbourne way of going on what can be a tricky Caulfield circuit.

“He has come through the Golden Rose great,” Baker said. “He has got a great attitude – he is really bombproof.”

“He had a nice gallop left-handed on Thursday (1 October), it wasn’t about breaking the clock. But he has been very, very good, arguably a once-in-a-lifetime colt.”

Warwoven will again be ridden by Rachel King, who has been in the saddle for all of the colt’s eight races, which have netted five wins.

Natalie Young said Blind Raise, who will again be ridden by Blake Shinn in the 11-horse field, had been impressive after winning his past two starts, including the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

“He did it under a lot of pressure, the pressure came to him and Blake (Shinn) just sat and waited and then he just really extended and he didn’t even pull the whip on him,” she said.

“He has come through that race excellent. He has got that good turn of foot that he does have and he’ll obviously be very competitive.”

Young got her wish when Blind Raise drew barrier two, and she is confident 1600m won’t be any issue.

Chris Waller, with four runners, and Ciaron Maher with three, again dominate the field. Tron Bolt, who has drawn the extreme outside barrier, is a player and rated Waller’s best chance ahead of Somethings Burnin’, Diameter and Central Europe.

“He’s a very talented colt, with a Group 1 next to his name and his run in the Golden Rose was certainly a pass mark and he’ll appreciate stepping up to the 1600m here,” Waller said of Tron Bolt.

Maher’s Unit Five could show up at good odds, while Tornado Valley has garnered some support after his last start second to Blind Raise, although by two-and-three-quarter lengths, in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude.

Anthony Freedman, who trains in partnership with his son Sam, will saddle Wolf Gap and Call Me Coach, who both should be competitive.

In another feature race on Saturday, triple Group 1-winning mare Sheza Alibi steps up to 2000m for the first time and is expected to be at short odds, ahead of Waller-trained Birdman in the six-horse G1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m).

Waller is confident that with two wins and a second from four races at 2000m that Birdman is certainly a chance to topple Sheza Alibi.

“If she (Sheza Alibi) runs to her ratings, we can’t beat her, but over 2000 metres it gives us a chance and Birdman’s in great form,” Waller said.

“I’m not expecting to beat her easily, or anything like that, but I know our horse runs 2000 metres and with Sheza Alibi, they’ll be hoping she gets 2000 metres. Birdman is in great form. His win the other day was good, and he seems to have come on nicely since that.”

Waller said Birdman’s maturity and age had resulted in the six-year-old gelding producing consistent form at the highest level.

The G1 Might And Power Stakes (2000m) is carded as S2-4 and will be run at 12.50pm (Hong Kong time) on Saturday, 10 October and the G1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is carded as S2-5 and will be run at 1.30pm (Hong Kong time).