Multiple Gr1 winning juvenile Militarize confirmed his status as one of the most exciting horses in the land with a barnstorming win in Saturday’s Gr1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill.
Buried back behind runners, Militarize had to produce a paralysing burst to reel in Encap and Cylinder in the final strides after obtaining a clear run very late in the race.
Militarize emerged as one of the brightest prospects in Australia when late in his juvenile season he swept the Gr1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and Gr1 Champagne Stakes.
Today’s win in the stallion making Golden Rose confirmed the reputation by which he is held by connections.
“If he hadn’t done enough already, he certainly has today,” winning trainer Chris Waller said when asked about his stallion credentials.
“It was a classic Golden Rose, good field,” Waller added. “I guess we had a nice, favourable draw, confident jockey and I always thought the 1400 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.”
Waller praised big race international rider Joao Moreira for getting his charge home after a strong late burst.
“Everything worked out well (during the run). A bit of traffic in the straight but he’s an amazing jockey.”
The Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and even the weight-for-age championship of Australasia, the WS Cox Plate (2040m) could be on the cards for Militarize.
“We certainly will be talking about a Guineas for sure, that looks a nice race for him in terms of a traditional set-up. I don’t think there’ll be any differing along the way.”
“Who knows (about the Cox Plate). Dreams happen on a racecourse, that’s for sure. One step get through today. Second step, Guineas. Third step, get through the Guineas.”
The love affair between Militarize and champion international jockey Joao Moreira continued – that’s three times they’ve combined – for three Gr1 wins.
“I couldn’t feel any better,” Moreira beamed. “He’s such a great horse for myself.”
“Every time I’ve sat on him, he hasn’t let me down. Today he had to make it tough considering that he didn’t have everything go his way.”
Moreira feared his winning chances were remote when he was trapped behind a wall of horses in the straight.
“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. 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.”
Moreira said he would leave future programming, including a possible crack at the Cox Plate, up to Militarize’s trainer.
“I will leave that to Chris to answer. If Chris believes he can run 2000 metres I’m with him. To know what he’s done with the horse is amazing and I’m just lucky to be on board.”
Militarize, a son of Arrowfield Stud’s star sire Dundeel, was a $550,000 Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase in 2022 for China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing and partners.
The colt was bred by GSA Bloodstock and sold through the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds.
He is from a French placed Dubawi half-sister to stakes winner Important Time – the dam of multiple Gr1 winner Nations Pride.
Militarize’s second dam is the Longchamp Gr1 winner Satwa Queen (Muhtathir). Satwa Queen is also the grandam of Yulong’s Gr1 winning sire Lucky Vega.
- Winner: Militarize
- Breeding: Dundeel-Amerindia (Dubawi)
- Breeder: GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd
- Race: ATC Golden Rose Stakes Gr1 (1400m)
- Sold for: A$550,000
- Sale: 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
- Vendor: Bhima Thoroughbreds (As Agent)
- Buyer: China Horse Club/Newgate B’stock/Trilogy Racing
- Earnings: A$1,716,950
- Owners: Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Trilogy, Newgate S F, Horse Ventures, Go Bloodstock Australia, Starlight Racing, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Carpe Diem, Aston Bloodstock, Nick Vass Bloodstock, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd & Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd
- Trainer(s): Chris Waller (Rosehill)
