Bjorn Baker’s unbeaten colt, Warwoven, has been withdrawn from the $3 Magic Millions 2YO Classic. That surprise move completely shifts the landscape of the race. The decision was made in the early hours of Saturday morning after Warwoven showed signs of lameness on Friday. With Warwoven the overwhelming race favourite at odds of $1.70, his withdrawal pushes a big hole into the line up.
On Saturday morning, Warwoven was re-examined by track veterinarians. Although Baker was confident about the colt’s fitness to race, Queensland chief steward Josh Adams overruled him, citing concerns regarding the horse’s condition. This ruling put all the focus onto Zip Lock, who now has to be considered the new favorite to win the event.
Baker was disappointed by the outcome but recognized that ensuring safety and racing with the right practices should come before everything else. He went on to say, “Regrettably, Queensland Racing Veterinarians did not come on board with our views, and we appreciate their decision and will go along with it.
Warwoven has shown a lot of talent. It scored a dazzling win at Eagle Farm on January 3 and rejoiced in a powerful first-up success at Randwick on December 20. He arrived with the right credentials, highly touted and a $380,000 Gold Coast yearling. This massive investment increased the pressure and expectations for his debut at the Magic Millions.
The race is down to 13 horses. One of Baker’s other entrants, Masvingo, has been pulled from the race due to lameness. Baker explained Masvingo’s situation, stating, “Masvingo came up on the float on Wednesday night and, when trotted up on Thursday morning, was found to be lame.”
Astonishing shifts in the landscape have a lot of motorsports fans all twitchy with worry. They can’t wait to see how the other horses will act with Warwoven out of the race. As the event approaches, questions loom over how this dramatic turn of events will impact the overall competition among the remaining contenders.
