Chris Waller knows what is takes to win the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) having trained Winx (Street Cry) to win Australia’s best race on four consecutive occasions.
But for something different this year, Waller will saddle his first three-year-old runner in the 2040m Group One race at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel), already a triple Group One winner, will be out to join a star-studded list of three-year-olds to win the Cox Plate in the past 20 years – Savabeel (Zabeel) (2004), So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral) (2009 & 2010) and Shamus Award (Snitzel) (2013).
Waller will also saddle Fangirl (Sebring) who will be attempting the 2040m trip for the first time.
“Fangirl is in great form, possibly the best form of her career, not that there was anything wrong with her form when she was running second behind Anamoe (Street Boss) and I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) last year,” Waller said.
“I think she is a decent horse, arguably the best miler in Australia at the moment but she just needs to tick the 2000 metre box.
“She’s as fit as we can get her and if she runs 2040 metres, she’ll be very hard to beat.”
Having shown his strength as a two-year-old winning the Group One double of the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Champagne Stakes (1600m) during the autumn, Waller penciled in Saturday’s race for Militarize when the then two-year-old was turned out for a spell.
Waller does not see the distance being a problem while he is getting up to 9.5kg off the more established weight-for-age gallopers.
“He’s by Dundeel, who was a fantastic mile to 2000-metre horse, out of a Dubawi mare and I think he’s got all the attributes to suggest at 2000 metres, he will be solid at the end,” Waller said.
“Having won a Sires’ Produce and a Golden Rose he’s sharp enough to drop back if it doesn’t work.
“Timing wise, maturity wise, I think he’s ready.
“It’s a pretty big ask for a three-year-old, but when he’s been competing at the highest level all his life, I don’t think it’s a problem.”
