Militarize will be out to add to his Group 1 record in the Caulfield Guineas.
Chris Waller is renowned for not pushing his young horse too early in their careers, so it is rare to find a two-year-old Group 1 winner among his ever-expanding haul.
The races Waller has previously targeted for his emerging two-year-old talent is the, now named, J J Atkins, a race he has won three times with his two-year-olds.
Caulfield Guineas 2023 favourite Militarize is an exception to that rule being a dual Group 1 winner as a two-year-old, winning the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Champagne Stakes at Randwick during the autumn.
Stablemate Shinzo won the Golden Slipper last season, which combined with Militarizes wins doubled Waller’s Group 1 two-year-old successes to six.
Militarize has returned as a three-year-old to claim the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill at his most recent outing and will be out to build on that in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.
“He’s a good horse and it’s exciting to bring a horse like that down here,” Waller said.
“He does everything that we ask.
“First-up at 1200 metres, a few things went against him but then he was sharp enough to beat the best three-year-olds in the Golden Rose and we know the mile is no problem.”
Waller said he had barely had starters in the feature Group 1 races for two-year-olds during the Sydney Autumn Carnival but said Militarize was ‘pretty good’.
So ‘pretty good’ that Arrowfield Stud, who stands his sire Dundeel, bought into the colt last week.
Waller is not getting too far ahead of himself but said the Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 28 could be on the agenda for Militarize after the Guineas.
But Waller has all but ruled out a start in the Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on November 4.
“Maybe (the Cox Plate), but we’ll take one step at a time,” Waller said.
“For sure (it will be looked at), but it’s all about the Caulfield Guineas, protecting his value and getting that job done and then we can look a bit higher.”
Waller has won the Guineas twice with The Autumn Sun (2018) and Press Statement (2015) who were Group 1 winners in Brisbane as two-year-olds.
The trainer said Militarize was potentially the best three-year-old he has trained, but there was still unfinished business.
“At this stage he looks pretty good and the next six months will tell us,” Waller said.
“Those extremely good horses, they keep lifting and he’s right up there with the best I’ve had, but he’s still got to finish off.”
Joao Moreira, who won the Golden Rose on Militarize, has been booked for the ride in the Guineas.
