Chris Waller knows what is takes to win the Cox Plate having trained Winx 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 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Militarize, already a triple Group 1 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 (2004), So You Think (2009 & 2010) and Shamus Award (2013).
Waller will also saddle Fangirl 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 and I Wish I Win 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.”
Star Hong Kong jockey Zac Purton will partner Fangirl with James Mcdonald, who rode the mare to win the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick last start, committed to Romantic Warrior while Nash Rawiller, who had been booked for the ride, is out suspended.
“Zac’s experience on days like this is very good,” Waller said.
Having shown his strength as a two-year-old winning the Group 1 double of the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) and the Champagne Stakes (1600m) during the autumn, Waller pencilled 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.”