Militarize spears the Golden Rose
Militarize (extreme right) about to launch his winning run in the ATC Golden Rose S. G1. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Just when Saturday’s $1 million Golden Rose S. G1 looked all over, Dundeel’s sensational son Militarize hit warp speed to secure his third Group 1 victory in 7 starts.
Militarize charged home from 10th at the 200-metre mark to pip Encap and Cylinder right on the line and record a time of 1:22.24 for the 1400 metres – the same time posted by The Autumn Sun when winning the 2018 Golden Rose in similar fashion.
Dundeel is now the only active Australasian sire of two colts, Militarize & Castelvecchio, that have won Group 1 races at both 2 and 3. Dundeel’s 7 elite winners have compiled 11 Group 1 wins from 1200 to 2500 metres.
Militarize is the 4th Arrowfield-sired Golden Rose winner in the past 7 years, after Snitzel’s sons Trapeze Artist (2017) & In The Congo (2021) and The Autumn Sun (by Redoute’s Choice).
MILITARIZE AND THE ‘MAGIC MAN’ OVER THE TOP!
He wins the Golden Rose, and adds a third Group 1 to his CV.@cavaleiro83 @Chinahorseclub @NewgateFarm @cwallerracing pic.twitter.com/ELfZBAlJe6
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 23, 2023
Militarize’s jockey Joao Moreira said, “To be honest I wasn’t that confident I would be able to win as we approached the last 300 metres. 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.”
Moreira also rode Militarize to victory in last season’s Inglis Sires’ Produce S. G1 and Champagne S. G1, performances that earned the colt a 117 rating alongside Snitzel’s son Shinzo at the head of the Australian 2YO Classification.
Bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, Militarize is the second foal of Amerindia, a daughter of Dubawi and the French Group 1 winner Satwa Queen, from the family of irish Group 1 2YO winner Lucky Vega.
Offered for sale by Bhima Thoroughbreds at Magic Millions, Militarize was purchased by Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club & Trilogy Racing for $550,000 and sent to Chris Waller who will now prepare the colt for the $3 million Caulfield Guineas G1 on 14 October.
Amerindia has a yearling colt by Snitzel and is due to foal to Dundeel next month.
