Champion trainer Chris Waller could complete Sydney’s two-year-old Triple Crown in the Champagne Stakes on Saturday, and it comes down to attitude as much as ability with Golden Slipper winner Shinzo and Sires Produce Stakes winner Militarize.
Waller would prefer to wait rather than push his two-year-olds but got it right with Shinzo in the Golden Slipper (1200m) and had Militarize waiting in the wings to land what was arguably an even more impressive win in the Sires Produce Stakes (1400m). That victory gave sire Dundeel a third group 1-winning son and has Militarize as favourite stepping up to 1600m for the third leg of the group 1 treble.
Militarize careers away with the Sires Produce Stakes at Randwick.Credit: Getty
“We were sceptical about [Dundeel] as a stallion and haven’t had too many of them, but Militarize has changed our thoughts,” Waller said.
“He is just so professional and so easy to do anything with, which it makes them easy to train as two-year-olds and win these types of races.
“Attitude is everything in my system; if they don’t have that we are prepared to give them time.”
Militarize showed his maturity in the Sires when Joao Moreira was able to get him to travel strongly into the race before letting down to win by 3½ lengths from Don Corleone.
“He was dominant in the Sires and you saw that attitude he has in the run,” Waller said. “When Joao asked him to come back to him, he did and he just travelled. That allowed him to show his ability at the end.
“I think the mile should suit him and he handles the conditions. He has to get the trip but from what he has shown us he should get it.”
The Champagne Stakes is one of three Sydney group 1 races Waller is yet to win, but bookmakers think that will change on Saturday with Militarize, which is a $2.15 top pick. Don Corleone and Fernhill Handicap winner Tom Kitten are considered the dangers at $4 and $11 respectively.
Meanwhile, Waller has decided to spell Nature Strip and give the world champion sprinter a chance for a spring farewell.
“Nature Strip has pulled up well after his [fourth] in the TJ Smith Stakes,” Waller said. “We gave consideration towards taking him to Queensland, however, after a busy 12 months and the short amount of downtime, it has been decided that he will spell.
“It is likely that he will come back in the spring for a race-by-race preparation.”
Waller is prepared to wait to see if the eight-year-old maintains his lust for racing later in the year.
“By spelling him now, we have time to give him a seven-eight week break and this will be the first time he has had one of these breaks for a very long time,” Waller said.
“We want to see how he is when he returns, and if he doesn’t come up like we think he should then we will give consideration to retirement.”
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