Chris Waller‘s brilliant Dundeel colt Militarize was given a gun run by Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira to dominate the 2023 Golden Rose Stakes results late in Sydney on Saturday.
2023 Golden Rose winner Militarize is likely to head to Melbourne next start for a shot at the Group 1 $3 million Caulfield Guineas. Photo: Steve Hart.
The ‘Magic Man’ Moreira answered the call from the Waller stable travelling to Australia and getting the job done for his seventh Group 1 success down under in a stunning finish to the $1.5 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m).
For the maestro Waller it was his 151st Group 1 success and his third in the Golden Rose following on from Zoustar (2013) and The Autumn Sun (2018).
Militarize enjoyed his third elite level success running right over the top of his rivals in the important stallion-making race adding to his Group 1 double as a two-year-old in the Inglis Sires’ and Champagne Stakes.
Moreira let the eventual Golden Rose winner rip with 50m to go and Militarize bombed them late in a huge finish.
After pulling three-wide approaching the turn to come around them, Gary Portelli‘s Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality winner Encap hit the front at the 150m after a perfect ride from apprentice Dylan Gibbons and looked like he might steal the show at 14/1.
Militarize bombed him late however and snared victory right on the line, while third went to James Cummings‘ Run To The Rose winner Cylinder.
The beaten favourite Cylinder was brave to run a place, winding up and hitting top gear with a furlong to go after getting caught three wide without cover after settling.
The winning ride was a peach however with Moriera forced back to the inside having been squeezed for room before producing the barnstorming finish.
Waller was quick to credit both the ride from Moriera as well as the decision to put the blinkers on.
“It was a classic Golden Rose, good field,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“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.”
Waller is now considering a step back up to a mile with a trip south for Militarize on October 14 for the Group 1 $3 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m).
“We certainly will be talking about a Guineas for sure, that looks a nice race for him in terms of a traditional set-up,” he said.
“I don’t think there’ll be any differing along the way.”
From there it could be onwards and upwards for a shot against the older horses at weight-for-age in the Group 1 $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28.
“Who knows? Dreams happen on a race course, that’s for sure. One step, get through today. Second step, Guineas. Third step, get through the Guineas,” he said.
Militarize is now the $3.30 favourite in all-in 2023 Caulfield Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.
