Militarize Marches to Impressive Champagne Win

Chris Waller's reputation as a top-class trainer of juveniles reached stratospheric heights April 15 as Militarize added a second successive group 1 to his resume when he landed the Champagne Stakes (G1) at Randwick, handing the trainer a clean sweep of Sydney's juvenile Triple Crown.

In terms of 2-year-olds, it has been a career-defining season for Waller, who landed the Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) for the first time with Coolmore's talented colt Shinzo at the beginning of the autumn carnival. Two weeks' later, Militarize assured the trainer a chance to clinch the 2-Year-Old Triple Crown when he duly delivered in the Sires' Produce Stakes (G1).

After successfully snaring the three group 1s in the space of six weeks, Waller struggled to keep his emotions in check, showing the enormity of the achievement was not lost on the trainer, who has now won an extraordinary 27 of the 29 top-flight races up for grabs in Sydney with the Australian Derby (G1) and Canterbury Stakes (G1) the only two missing from Waller's resume.

"I haven't put that much thought into it, but as soon as you said it (winning, the Triple Crown), as you can tell it makes me a little bit emotional. We haven't done anything different, just looked after these great crop of 2-year-olds and they've looked after us haven't they?" said Waller.

Raced by a conglomerate of owners headed by Newgate Farm, and ridden by Joao Moreira, Militarize was caught three-wide throughout the 1600-meter (about one mile) contest, with Bases Loaded setting decent fractions on the front end. As they turned in, Moreira hit the button on Militarize and he responded in fine style, eating up the ground with every stride, soaring past Bases Loaded, eventually beating that rival by a length and three-quarters. Townsend, who like the winner is also by Dundeel , was another length further adrift in third.

Despite the colt now having two group 1s under his belt, Waller said the 2-year-old was by no means the finished article and he was already looking forward to see how far he could go in the spring.

"He was in a class of his own in my opinion, which I can say. But realistically he's a decent horse. He was three-wide today, didn't have any cover. Joao (Moreira) didn't panic. The most exciting part is we haven't pushed him yet," said the trainer.

"We're certainly looking forward to the spring."

Giga Kick and Douglas Come of Age With First Group 1 Victory

Giga Kick added a much-deserved first group 1 to his record when he produced a dominant performance to win yesterday's All Aged Stakes (G1) at Randwick, handing his sire Scissor Kick  and his trainer Clayton Douglas their first top-flight winner. 

A winner of The Everest in the spring, Giga Kick came into the race having been narrowly denied his first top-level victory when he finished second behind I Wish I Win in the TJ Smith Stakes (G1).

Stepping out over 1400 meters (about seven furlongs) for the first time in his career, the 3-year-old gelding had no issues with the rise in trip, finishing like a train, a length and a half in front of multiple group 1 winner Zaaki , who ran well, back from an extended spell. Cascadian  ran another brilliant race to finish another neck away in third.

"It was great, he's a high-class horse and I was very confident during the week. He was just going so well and he's presented so good. It took a very good horse today that was going to beat him. He went through the line didn't he, so I think the 1400 meters was no drama," Douglas said.

"I'm not a very emotional person, but for some reason I'm getting a bit emotional about this one, it means a lot. It's everything we strive to do and it's phenomenal."

The win also signaled a triumphant return for jockey Craig Williams, who only returned on Monday from a broken collarbone he suffered in a race day fall in March. Williams was quick to heap praise on the young trainer.

 "The way (Clayton Douglas is) preparing the horse. The way he puts all his energy into the horse, knowing him. He's only a three-year-old having his ninth start, so it's really exciting," said the winning jockey. 

"It just shows you, you've got big races in Sydney, you've got people here from Melbourne supporting. It's OK for me, I'm lucky enough to ride him, but he does all the running. Clayton prepares him and I'm lucky to be a part of his journey.

"Full credit has got to go to Clayton Douglas as trainer. I'm lucky enough to get on him race day. I haven't been on his back, I've seen him on TV, until today. He's got a great hand on where he's at and developing this horse. He's a three-year-old having his ninth start and he's just so exciting. I couldn't be feeling so blessed to be a part of his team."