Michael Dee to partner Warmonger in the Makybe Diva Stakes

Jockey Michael Dee will partner Warmonger when the four-year-old makes his reappearance in a Group 1 race at Flemington.

The Queensland Derby winner is set to resume in the Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) on Saturday having had a trial and jump-out at Cranbourne in recent weeks.

Warmonger is being aimed at the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 and potentially the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 6, and trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr wanted to lock in a rider that could manage the gelding’s expected impost.

Price and Kent Jnr are expecting Warmonger to receive 53kg or 53.5kg despite the gelding’s imposing 10-½ length romp in the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in June.

Blake Shinn guided Warmonger home that day but cannot ride the expected Cups weight with handicaps to be declared for both races on September 17.

Kent Jnr said he and Price wanted to get in early and lock away a jockey for the Cups, especially with The Everest (1200m) being run at Randwick on Caulfield Cup Day.

“Mick Dee is booked for the Caulfield Cup,” Kent Jnr said.

“We’re expecting 53 or 53-½ kilos in the Caulfield Cup and being the same day as The Everest we wanted to get someone locked in.

“Blake won on him in Queensland but it’s doubtful Blake would ride that weight, so we’ve made sure we’ve got someone early.”

Warmonger has had two trials at Cranbourne in preparation for his return run in the Makybe Diva.

The gelding scored over 1200m with Shinn aboard before Dee had his first sit on Warmonger when fourth in a 1200m jump-out on September 3.

“Mick Dee had his first sit on him, and he was good,” Kent Jnr said.

“It was a lot different to his first trial which was a slow tempo, and he was able to win.

“Keats led them a merry dance in the jump-out, so there was a lot more pace on, which was good.

“It gave him the pipe-opener that we were after, so he’ll be ready to front up in the Makybe Diva.”