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Joao’s Militarize Magic Threepeat.
They say he has the magic touch, and when it comes to Militarize it seems Joao Moreira certainly does after producing a stunning Golden Rose ambush.
It's now three Group 1 wins from as many rides on the star Chris Waller colt, the Golden Rose adding to wins in the autumn in the ATC Sires' and Champagne Stakes.
Moreira said he wasn't ever that confident in the run but described the colt as a star for the turn of foot he produced to run down Encap, who had the race won, and Cylinder who was brave after racing wide.
"I couldn't feel any better, he's such a great horse for myself,'' Moreira said.
"Every time I've sat on him he hasn't let me down. Today he had to make it tough considering that he didn't have everything go his way.
"The last bit when I was able to get him into the clear where he just dashed home like a star. Good horses make jockeys' lives so much easier."
Waller said the blinkers might have made the differençe on the colt but had nothing but praise for Moreira's ride.
"We chose to put the blinkers on which I don't like doing too early in a horse's career, but it might've just got us home,'' he said.
"Everything worked out well. A bit of traffic in the straight but he's an amazing jockey."
While Militarize reigned supreme, stablemate and Golden Slipper winner Shinzo pulled up 2/5 lame in the off foreleg and there'd have to be huge doubt over whether he'll take Coolmore's slot in the TAB Everest.
After settling back near the tail and turning widest, Shinzo didn't let down at all and managed to beat only a couple to the line.
Baker Open To Everest For Ozzmosis
If the owners of boom colt Ozzmosis are offered a TAB Everest slot then trainer Bjorn Baker will have no hesitation in giving the three-year-old his chance – but suspects 2024 might be his year.
Ozzmosis made it three from three with a strong on pace win in the Listed Petaluma Heritage Stakes (1100m) and immediately attention turned to whether Baker wants the youngster to join Overpass in the $20 million race.
He firmed to $13 with TAB.
"From a horse point of view we'll get him home and take it one step at a time,'' Baker said.
"We have the Roman Consul pencilled in. I think in the autumn he'll be better again, this time next year he will be a live Everest candidate.
"He's definitely one of, if not the most exciting, colts I've trained."
Rachel King settled Ozzmosis outside the favourite Royal Tribute and put the pressure on coming around the turn. He was there to be beaten but dug in and pulled away to score by over a length.
Baker said his charge was vulnerable first-up and there was improvement to come.
"He's just got a great attitude and the pedigree to match it,'' he said.
"I was very nervous going into today and I thought he had to do it the hard way."
If Ozzmosis does gain an Everest start he'll carry 53kg and King has put her hand up to be in the driver's seat.
"He is very special. Just really grateful to all the connections for letting me steer him around,'' she said.
"It was pretty much all I had to do. He has always had an engine. Even today he hit the front and he was arrogant. I don't know where this horse is going to get to. At the moment there is no ceiling."
No Everest For Giga Kick
Giga Kick won't be at Royal Randwick next month to defend his TAB Everest title after he was sensationally scratched from the race and spelled due to injury.
His removal leaves James Harron searching for a replacement for his slot in the $20 million race.
Trainer Clayton Douglas said the gelding had torn a gluteal muscle in his last start in the McEwan Stakes at Moonee Valley on September 9 and required some time.
"I have arguably the best horse in the country, who was set to have a great spring running in races carrying $30 million in prize money, but unfortunately he is going to the paddock. That's racing,'' Douglas said.
"He will come back for what will hopefully be a drama free Autumn preparation."
It leaves seven horses confirmed for the TAB Everest after announcements this week that Overpass takes a slot shared between the ATC and WA based RAM Racing and Buenos Noches lines up in the TAB slot.
Is Espiona Waller's Everest Understudy?
"If we can't find a better one she'll be there."
Group 1 winning mare Espiona has become the horse that's most likely to fill the Chris Waller Racing slot in next month's $20m TAB Everest after her runaway win in the $400,000 Racing and Sports Golden Pendant (1400m).
She's now a $17 chance with TAB in the Everest and Waller said he'll likely stay out of discussions as to her suitability for his stable's slot but added the form around her is suggesting she'd be some chance.
The five-year-old was runner-up to Sunshine In Paris in the Sheraco Stakes earlier this month and the winner earned her Everest chance via the Aquis slot.
"The horse that beat her last start has got a slot (Sunshine In Paris). I guess we've got to work out where she fits in, we won't say no,'' Waller said.
"Someone might grab her before our slot, who knows?
"For Denise (Martin) and Star Thoroughbreds I hope they do get a slot, it would be fantastic. It's such an amazing race and they'll run with speed on so she's got the right set-up, just got to be good enough to win. We'll wait and see."
Jockey Nash Rawiller, who rides Private Eye in the Everest, tried to cuddle Espiona in the early part of the straight but she still raced with her head to the side. Once she hit the lead she raced truly and put 2-1/2 lengths on her stablemate Atishu.
She clocked 32.61 for her last 600m and, unsurprisingly, also the race's fastest last 200m of 11.14.
O'Shea Relying On Benaud For Metrop
Athabascan won't be backing up in next week's Group 1 $750,000 James Squire Metropolitan (2400m) after his win in the Colin Stephen at Rosehill but trainer John O'Shea is more than happy to be represented by the rejuvenated Benaud.
The grey has just 51.5kg in the Metropolitan and O'Shea said the timing is right for Benaud to get the Group 1 he promised as a three-year-old.
After winning the Wyong Cup he proved to the Randwick trainer that he's on target with a game second behind metropolitan favourite Just Fine in last week's Kingston Town Stakes.
"We were keen to give him a run in town the other day, he's now ready for a mile and a half. That was a searching ten furlongs in a quality race,'' O'Shea said.
"We went through a process of going through all the little things that might have been bugging him, ruled each of those things out along the way and once we did that we knew we'd get him back.
"We gave him that confidence boosting win (in a Class 1) then to go back and win the Wyong Cup and put in that strong performance last week."
Meanwhile, O'Shea will send Athabascan south after his last-to-first win in the Group 3 at Rosehill where he backed up his easy win in the City Tattersalls Club Cup from three weeks ago.
"He ended up getting back to last because they all got on their bikes nice and early,'' he said.
"He's just a top class stayer and we are looking forward to the next month."
