Militarize draws perfect gate in Group 1 Randwick Guineas

March 6, 2024 1:04 pm.

Randwick Guineas favourite, Militarize (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos)

The Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) takes top billing this Saturday at Randwick, where a competitive contingent of 11 three-year-olds are set to take their place in the $1,000,000 feature.

The Chris Waller-trained Militarize has been the long-standing favourite for the event, and after drawing barrier four, online bookmakers aren’t willing to take any chances on the Dundeel colt, installing him as a clear +140 favourite post barrier draw.

He was impressive first-up when finishing runner-up against the older horses in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) at this track on February 17 and gets the services of leading hoop James McDonald for the first time this weekend.

Celestial Legend was dominant in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago, and with that usually the traditional lead-up, the Les Bridge-trained galloper is sure to have plenty of admirers on the second line of betting at +290.

Eight other gallopers are set to come through the Hobartville form-line, as Tom Kitten (+500) and Encap (+750) hold single figures in betting.

Meanwhile, the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained pair of Les Vampires (+1100) and Ganbare (+1500) are being respected early.

The rank outsider comes in the form of the Edward Cummings-trained Cosmic Lad +10000 who comes through mid-week BM64 company and will need to make big strides to be a player in this contest.

The Group 1 Randwick Guineas is race eight on the Randwick program this Saturday and is scheduled to get underway at 4:35pm local time.