Three-time Group One winner Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel) has gone back into training last week and been gelded after fertility problems put a premature end to his career at stud.
The Golden Rose, Champagne Stakes and Sires’ Produce winner was standing for a fee of a $38,500, but the son of Dundeel only got a handful of mares in foal in his first season.
“Just a small handful, only a couple (of mares in foal), so you never know maybe one day they will be racing him in a few years’ time,” Newgate Managing Director Henry Field said.
Militarize’s most recent start was in the G1 Doncaster back in April when he finished third behind Celestial Legend.
It was a frustrating autumn of placings in all four runs for the now four-year-old, including in the G1 Randwick Guineas and George Ryder Stakes.
Field said Militarize will spend a few more weeks at the pre-trainers before heading to Chris Waller and returning to racing in the autumn.
“He’s thriving and has settled into pre-training really well and he is going back to Chris Waller in a few weeks’ time to target the back end of autumn and into the winter,” he said.
“We are excited about him … he retired from racing sound and clean winded, all of the things you need, so he’s got a bright future.
“The only risk I suppose is has he enjoyed breeding a few mares and whether his mind is on the job?
“But he’s been gelded so hopefully he can make a good comeback.
“And the good thing with the Dundeel sire line is they get better as they get older, so hopefully he will have plenty of racing left in him.”
Militarize has raced 13 times, including in nine G1 races, for four career wins and earnings of more than $2.5 million.
