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| Staff Writer |
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Rosehill experienced a sudden drop in temperature on Saturday, but the excitement of the Gr.1 Golden Rose race certainly raised the heat. The Dundeel colt Militarize proved his worth as a future stallion with his win, having already secured two Group One victories at the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1400m and Champagne Stakes over 1600m. Trainer Chris Waller plans to enter the colt in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas.
Waller applied blinkers to help the colt over the distance, which proved to be a wise decision. Jockey Joao Moreira followed Nash Rawiller on Cylinder, and although he and Militarize had clear room at the 200m, they had what would conventionally be considered too much distance to catch up.
However, Militarize ran the 200m in a smart 11.18, arriving at speed outside the pair.
Encap ran his final 200m in 11.64, Cylinder in 11.49, fourth-placed Butch Cassidy in 11.71, and fifth-placed Charm Stone in 11.56. The respective final 600m times were 33.61, 34.02, 33.76, 34.31, 34.04.
Meanwhile, Golden Slipper winner Shinzo clocked 33.78 for the final 600m, but the colt was 12th across the top and ninth at the line. Militarize's win was a great start to his campaign, and he now heads to Caulfield, where there is much more to come.
Waller also had a great day with his mare's Espiona and Atishu, who finished in the quinella for the Group 2 Racing & Sports Golden Pendant (1400m). Espiona, under Rawiller, powered home, setting a new class record and running the fastest final 600m of the program in 32.61.
Attention then turned to Caulfield after the Pendant and Rose races, with approval of the Waterhouse and Bott trained Alligator Blood under Damien Oliver winning the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), giving the All Too Hard gelding successive wins in the feature. His sire’s name fits the seven-year-old’s racing, too hard, too strong, too fit. As with Militarize, there is much more to come over the coming weeks.
The day started with the news of the withdrawal of last year's winner of the TAB Everest, Giga Kick, and finished with discussion on who might take his place in the now vacant slot as well as who takes the remaining slots, including Waller’s. The sprinters have another attempt to reach base camp in the US$1m, Gr.2 Premiere Stakes next week, along with three quality Group 1 races on the programme, the TAB Epsom, Furphy Metropolitan (2400m), and Darley Flight Stakes. The weather promises to be warmer as well.