*Article by Mark Smith for breednet
Closing out his juvenile campaign with wins in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes, the Dundeel colt Militarize assumed his position at the top of the ranks at three with a barnstorming finish in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Group 1 Kia Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill.
Joao Moreira was in the saddle for the Sires and Champagne and reunited with the Chris Waller-trained colt in the Golden Rose.
With a lot left to do with less than 100m to run, Militarize launched late to deny the gallant Capitalist gelding Encap by a long-head, with short-half-head back to the favourite Cylinder (Exceed And Excel), who endured a torrid run.
With his third Group 1 Militarize advances his record to four wins and a third from seven starts with earnings of $1,716,950.
“If he hadn’t done enough already (to make a stallion), he certainly has today,” Chris Waller said.
“It was a classic Golden Rose, good field. I guess we had a nice favourable draw, confident jockey, and I always thought the 1400m would be a bit short.
“We chose to put the blinkers on, which I don’t like doing too early in a horse’s career, but it might’ve just got us home.
“Everything worked out well. A bit of traffic in the straight, but he’s an amazing jockey.
“We certainly will be talking about a Guineas for sure; that looks a nice race for him in terms of a traditional set-up.
Dreams happen on a race course, that’s for sure. One step, get through today. Second step, Guineas. Third step, get through the Guineas.”
Joao Moreira admitted he did not feel the winner at any stage.
“He’s such a great horse for myself. Every time I’ve sat on him he hasn’t let me down,” Moreira said.
“Today he had to make it tough considering that he didn’t have everything go his way today.”
“To be honest, I wasn’t that confident I would be able to win as we approached the last 300m. I had a wall of horses right in front of me, I just couldn’t get the split right away. That forced me to be in behind horses, but I found myself behind the right horse that will take me forward (Cylinder). The last bit when I was able to get him into the clear where he just dashed home like a star. Good horses make jockeys' lives so much easier.
Waller would not be drawn on a tilt for the Cox Plate, and neither would Moreira.
“I will leave that to Chris to answer. If Chris believes he can run 2000m I’m with him. To know what he’s done with the horse is amazing and I’m just lucky to be on board.”
Bred by Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock and raised in New Zealand at Haunui Farm, Militarize was a $550,000 purchase for China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock/Trilogy Racing from the Bhima Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The son of Dundeel is the second foal and first runner for the Dubawi mare Amerindia (GB).
Placed at Saint-Cloud and Chantilly, Amerindia (GB) is a 150,000gns purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Jonathon Munz at the 2017 Tattersalls November Mares Sale.
WBF Thoroughbreds will present a Dundeel colt ex Stroak at this year's Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale. He was purchased at the Inglis Classic Sale. Find out more here.
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