Magic Militarize
Son of Dundeel swoops on Golden Rose in the hands of Joao Moreira
Racing can be all about timing. And in brilliant colt Militarize (Dundeel) and ‘Magic Man’ rider Joao Moreira, their timing is nothing short of impeccable.
The pair, partnering yesterday for the Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m), Sydney’s pre-eminent spring three-year-old contest, soared down the Rosehill straight with a searching run, nailing the best of a crop in the clutches of the winning post. They were positioned ninth with just 200 metres left to run.
For the Chris Waller-prepared Militarize ($6.50), victory in yesterday’s Golden Rose was a fourth in a seven-start career, with three of those successes now coming at the stallion-making Group 1 level. For the globe-trotting Moreira, who was aboard Militarize for his two Group 1 wins as a juvenile, the swooping head margin of victory is a trademark product of a lifetime of experience striving for perfection.
For colts group owners Newgate and China Horse Club, for whom it was a second Golden Rose win in three years and for the latter marked a 50th Group 1 win worldwide, their elation permeated into anguish for Gary Portelli, whose Encap (Capitalist) ($15) ran a valiant race in second, while Godolphin had to settle for another elite-level placing for Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) ($4.20f), the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up, who finished a short-neck from the winner in third.
With scintillating successes in the ATC Sires’ Produce (Gr 1, 1400m) and ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1m 1600m) as a juvenile, Militarize’s stallion career was already assured, but his return at three to win the Golden Rose pivots the son of Dundeel (High Chaparral) into an elite group of two, along with Dundeel’s Arrowfield barnmate The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice), to have won the Group 1 Rosehill showpiece as well as at the elite-level as a juvenile.
Waller, for whom it was a third win in the Golden Rose after The Autumn Sun and Zoustar (Northern Meteor), paid tribute to both horse and jockey after the thrilling victory.
“If he hadn’t done enough already [to make a stallion], he certainly has today,” Waller said.
“It was a classic Golden Rose, a good field. I guess we had a nice, favourable draw, confident jockey, and I always thought the 1400 metres 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.”
Moreira, who forged his career as a multiple champion jockey in Hong Kong, had mooted retirement plans when relinquishing his licence in the jurisdiction last year owing to pain from a hip problem, but demonstrated his unquestioned ability in the saddle with a sumptuous ride in Sydney. But even he was doubting his powers as Militarize fronted up a blockade of horses at the top of the straight.
“To be honest I wasn’t that confident I would be able to win as we approached the last 300 metres,” Moreira said.
“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 he just dashed home like a star. Good horses make jockeys’ lives so much easier.”
For Waller, Militarize’s Golden Rose triumph was the first leg of what he hopes will be a spring of further success for the colt, with the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) on October 14 appearing to be the next port of call, but the champion trainer would not commit to the Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) a fortnight later.
The complexion of the Guineas took a shake-up as a result of yesterday’s results in Sydney and Melbourne, with Militarize now the $3.50 favourite to claim the prestigious Group 1, while Caulfield Guineas Prelude (Gr 3, 1400m) scorer and unbeaten colt Steparty (Artie Schiller) is at $4.50. King Colorado (Kingman), who finished seventh in the Golden Rose, is the only other horse in single figure odds at $6.50.
“We certainly will be talking about a Guineas for sure; that looks a nice race for him in terms of a traditional set-up,” Waller said.
“Who knows? [regarding a Cox Plate start]. Dreams happen on a racecourse, that’s for sure. One step, get through today. Second step, Guineas. Third step, get through the Guineas.”
While Waller and the Newgate-China Horse Club ownership group celebrated, another colts Group rued the lack of luck of a stablemate, as Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Snitzel) could only finish ninth, with the colt revealed to be lame in the aftermath of the race. Shinzo had been widely tipped to be Coolmore’s runner for the upcoming The Everest (1200m) on October 14, but those plans could now be in doubt.
“Nothing went his way. He got back and the race just didn’t unfold for him,” Waller said.
“I’ll have a good assessment of the race and have a talk to Coolmore and see where we’re at.”
Bred in New Zealand by Jonathan Munz under his GSA Bloodstock banner, Militarize (3 c Dundeel – Amerindia by Dubawi) is the second foal out of the British-bred mare Amerindia, who was a 150,000gns purchase for Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock on behalf of Munz at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Amerindia, herself a daughter of French Group 1 winner Satwa Queen (Muhtathir) and from the family of dual Grade 1 winner Nations Pride (Teofilo) and Yulong stallion Lucky Vega (Lope De Vega), has a two-year-old colt by Dundeel’s Waikato Stud-based son Super Seth. Named Perfectly Good, the colt was a $160,000 buy for Lindsay Park and Lizzie Jelfs at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The mare has a weanling colt by Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) and returned to Dundeel last year.