Militarize puts finishing touches to G1 Randwick Guineas bid

Chris Waller has issued an ominous warning to Militarize’s Randwick Guineas rivals, declaring they will need to be at their peak to topple the colt in the Group One feature.

The star three-year-old tuned up for next weekend’s showpiece with a solo workout over 1000 metres between races on Saturday, striding out under his own steam to cover the journey in 1:06.42 seconds, the final 600 metres in a relatively leisurely 37.74 seconds.

Waller expects that hitout to top the horse off for the Randwick Guineas (16000m), which comes three weeks after Militarize resumed with a slashing second to Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.

“Three weeks between runs and the other jockeys and horses will have to be on their game,” Waller said.

“He will be ready to go.”

Waller often uses race day gallops to bring his horse’s preparations up to speed and he says they are especially effective when he is spacing their runs.

“Three weeks between runs for my horses, often they can be a little bit soft if you don’t trial them or give them a piece of work,” he said.

“(Saturday’s) gallop would be like two solid gallops at home.”

Waller confirmed that Buckaroo, who was scratched from Saturday’s Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m), was being saved for the Ranvet Stakes (2000m) where he felt the import could be more effective.

In his second Australian preparation since arriving from Europe, Buckaroo has been sparingly raced and Waller feels that might be the best way to manage him for now.

“We could have run him,” he said.

“(But) he wouldn’t have really backed up (within) two weeks before and if we are backing him up this early in the prep, we wouldn’t have him at the end, so it is a fine line.”

Stablemate Olentia was also withdrawn from her scheduled assignment in the Guy Walter Stakes (1400m) with Waller revealing she had spiked a temperature.

While the setback is minor, the mare has been given a few days in the paddock to recover before Waller regroups and finds another race for her in the coming weeks.

However, he says it won’t be in the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m).

“She is a step below those good horses at the moment,” Waller said.

“She will earn her stripes when the time is right.”