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Chris Waller expects Militarize will be the horse to beat in next Saturday’s Randwick Guineas

Militarize is the $2.50 favourite to win the Randwick Guineas and his trainer Chris Waller expects rivals will have to be at their best to beat him at Royal Randwick.

Mitch Cohen
6 min read
March 3, 2024 - 8:43PM
Militarize is the favourite for next Saturday’s Randwick Guineas. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
Militarize is the favourite for next Saturday’s Randwick Guineas. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Trainer Chris Waller is adamant Militarize is the benchmark in next Saturday’s Group 1 $1m Randwick Guineas (1600m) and is confident his star colt will be “very hard to beat” at Royal Randwick.

Waller is chasing his second Randwick Guineas success after The Autumn Sun provided him with his maiden win in the race in 2019.

It’s more than likely that Militarize will be his only contender next weekend but Waller believes the smart son of Dundeel will give him all the firepower needed to win the three-year-old mile.

Militarize, who had an exhibition gallop at Royal Randwick on Saturday, produced an ominous return last month with a strong second behind Fangirl in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes and is a $2.50 favourite in the Guineas.

“He will be ready to go,” Waller said.

“It was a good first up run it so 1400m to the mile, he is equally as effective over the mile he is properly prepared.

“The beauty of Militarize is he is good on good tracks, or if we get a bit of rain, it’s not too much of a disadvantage either so a pretty straight forward prep.

“We purposely chose taking on the WFA horses just to season him up. And back to his own age group he should be very hard to beat.”

James McDonald put Militarize through his paces with an exhibition gallop on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images
James McDonald put Militarize through his paces with an exhibition gallop on Saturday. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Militarize has followed a different path to the Randwick Guineas to many of his rivals with key rivals Celestial Legend, Tom Kitten and Encap all running in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes.s

Celestial Legend, a $3.50 Guineas second elect, got the better off Encap to win in the Hobartville while Tom Kitten ran on for fifth.

“Celestial Legend was brilliant,“ Waller said when quizzed about the Hobartville.

“Look obviously we’ve got the benchmark and making sure that he comes back is my job so it will be a good race.”

Waller is set to nominate Espiona and Shinzo for next Saturday’s Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) but there is a chance that neither horse runs in the race.

A date with the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington on the same day is also an option for Espiona while Shinzo could be saved until another day.

“I’ve still got to make a decision if Shinzo is quite ready for it,” Waller said.

“We will make a decision Monday morning whether he runs or waits for save him for something else.

“I just want to see what weight Espiona gets and how she fares in the weights against the other horses.

“I don’t see 1300m being much of a problem (in the Canterbury). I think it is a good distance for her. Her first up run was terrific.”

Golden Slipper second favourite Switzerland lines up in the Group 2 Todman Stakes (1200m).

FIVE TO FOLLOW

ONCE AGAIN MY GIRL (race 3)

First up from a bleed, she was an excellent winner when beating out the previously unbeaten Perennial. Her best is still ahead of her and suspect she is much better than Highway grade.

FLY FLY (race 6)

Jason Collett was forced to go back to last from a wide barrier before the filly made up a stack of ground to finish second in the Sweet Embrace. She just needs to draw well to be very competitive next start.

TROPICAL SQUALL (race 8)

Tulloch Lodge made the decision to send this filly to the Group 1 first up and she proved to be up to the occasion. She can only improve off that run with plenty of autumn targets for her.

TUTTA LA VITA (race 8)

That will be the last time you see this filly go around at 100-1. She savaged the line in the Surround Stakes and will be a major player in the fillies features this autumn.

NEW ENERGY (race 10)

Phearson proved too hard to catch in the Liverpool City Cup but there was a lot to like about the way this bloke hit for second. That was his first Australian run and keen to stay with him this autumn.

STEWARDS SAY

Martial Music (race 1): Raced keenly and did not see out the 1100m trip. Was found to be ⅕ lame in the off-foreleg post race and will require vets clearance before racing again.

Our Kobison (race 2): Raced keenly and jockey James McDonald felt that effected the gelding’s ability to close off over the final 200m.

Fangirl (race 7): Passed fit to start after kicking a rail while being walked and sustaining superficial abrasions to the off-hind cannon. A post-race examination found no abnormalities.

Just Fine (race 7): Appeared to travel comfortably but jockey Regan Bayliss was disappointed in the manner the import failed to respond to riding as he gave ground. No issues were found.

Ausbred Flirt (race 9): Fractious in the gates, reared and hit its head on the barrier before missing the start by four lengths. Stewards placed a warning on the mare for her barrier manners but a vets check found no abnormalities.

CRUNCH TIME

Storm Boy (race 4): Was slow away but clocked the fastest first 200m in 13.80 seconds to find the front and it was game over from there. He came home in 33.99 for his last 600m.

Fly Fly (race 6): Settled at the back in the Sweet Embrace before rattling off the best sectionals for three of the final four furlongs. Her last 600m of 34.25 seconds was the best in the race.

Fangirl (race 8): As Think It Over took the shortcut, she went widest and ran out of time to run down the winner. She got home in 33.73 seconds for her last 600m including a closing split of 11.00.

Phearson (race 10): Had the field strung out with splits of 10.93 and 11.15 seconds between the 1000m and 600m. It helped him build a winning margin despite rivals closing late.

TRACK TALK

“Everyone thinks Think It Over’s a giant-killer, I just think he’s a giant,” Kerry Parker.

“It’s a long run home at Randwick but when he heard her (Fangirl) coming he found again and nothing was going to go past him today.” Nash Rawiller on Think It Over.

“It is an incredible feeling – you feel like he is going flat chat and then he goes even faster.” James McDonald on Storm Boy.

“It has been a huge 12 months – crazy, unbelievable,” Adam Hyeronimus after his latest Group 1.

YOU CAN BET ON IT

Race 4

Storm Boy was best backed on the Randwick card with 70% of the outlay despite the short price. A massive bet of $50,000 @ $1.30 taken while there were multiple $6,600 and $5,000 outlays at the same price.

Race 7

Fangirl held 65% of outlays for the TAB Verry Elleegant Stakes, second best backed of the day behind Storm Boy.

Think It Over took 15% and was $8.50 out to $9. Multiple bets of $2,000 outlays at $8 and $8.50, and $1,000 each-way bets at $8/$1.70, while one punter at $10,000 the place at $1.70 and another had $5,000 at $1.65.

Race 8

Learning To Fly held 50% of the money in the Surround while Tropicall Squall ($8.50) had around 5% of investments, including bets of $5,000 @ $7 and $2,000 each-way @ $8.50/$2.60.

NSW SCHEDULE

Monday: Cowra, Kempsey

Tuesday: Kembla Grange, Wagga

Wednesday: Warwick Farm

Thursday: Grafton

Friday: Newcastle, Dubbo

Saturday: Royal Randwick, Hawkesbury, Ballina, Corowa, Crookwell

Sunday: Tamworth, Canberra

RON DUFFICY’S ROYAL RANDWICK SNAPSHOT

RUN OF THE DAY

Think It Over was brilliant up to his sweet spot at a mile 2nd up getting G1 glory again.

He has been so reliable for many years now and his winning ways may not have stopped yet with his great racing style.

FORGET THEY RAN

Some may not be as forgiving for a beaten $1.30 favourite but Fangirl had a lot to do to round up Think It Over giving a huge start and still did a good job against a horse that was perfectly ridden. Mark her down on this defeat at your own peril.

THE BLACK BOOK

Tropical Squall is a very smart filly who is right up to races like the Coolmore Classic and Doncaster Mile while the Import New Energy was hard to miss in the last with a very encouraging Australian debut.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Jason Collett rode beautifully all day going home with a winning double beating the short priced favourite James McDonald in the Jockeys Challenge market.

He just reads these tricky tracks so well.

Originally published as Chris Waller expects Militarize will be the horse to beat in next Saturday’s Randwick Guineas

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Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/horse-racing/nsw-racing/chris-waller-expects-militarize-will-be-the-horse-to-beat-in-next-saturdays-randwick-guineas/news-story/48321afc587e5d4a97364a9e7754c914