Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Chris Waller-trained Militarize has yet to retire, yet he already has major studs queuing up to pledge support when the time comes.
Newgate Farm announced on Friday afternoon that John Messara’s Arrowfield Stud had entered the fold of the star son of Dundeel (NZ).
Militarize is owned and raced by Henry Field’s Newgate Stud alongside significant players such as China Horse Club and Go Bloodstock Australia.
Henry Field | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
For many, the combination of Field’s Newgate and Messara’s Arrowfield is enormous! Two supremos of the Australian racing and breeding industry.
Both are innovators and willing to put their judgment on the line; more times than not, their assessments ring true. There must be more to the story for the two to combine in an exceptional stallion prospect as Militarize.
Speaking to The Thoroughbred Report, Messara informed, “Not really. It could be seen that way, but it really isn’t.
John Messara | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Newgate has their business; we’ve got ours. If we can cooperate on things occasionally, we’re always happy to do so.
“But we saw an opportunity; we got offered an interest in Militarize from an international investor (Starlight Racing) that was there.
“We took the interest after clearing it with Henry (Field), and we’re purely a passive investor.
“We just like the horse.”
“...we saw an opportunity; we got offered an interest in Militarize from an international investor that was there... we’re purely a passive investor. We just like the horse.” - John Messara
Star quality
It would be hard not to like a horse such as Militarize. He has raced only seven times, greeting the judge in four, of which three have been at the elite level.
His efforts as a juvenile will give his Golden Slipper-winning stablemate Shinzo (Snitzel) a challenge for Australian Champion 2-Year-Old of the Year at the 2022/23 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards to be held in November.
Militarize was explosive in claiming the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and the G1 Champagne S. as a juvenile. Returning as a 3-year-old, the son of Dundeel was breathtaking in claiming the sire-making Golden Rose - his third Group 1 success.
Incredibly, before the month’s end, Militarize has a chance to add a fourth Group 1 in the Caulfield Guineas, which could potentially set up a tilt at the Cox Plate.
Dundeel factor
It also helps when you're a son of one of Australia’s hottest young stallions in Dundeel, who coincidentally stands at Arrowfield Stud.
A champion on the track, Messara knew he had to secure the son of High Chaparral (Ire) for Arrowfield.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Messara stated at the time of acquisition, “Dundeel was a racehorse of the highest class, effective at Group 1 level from a mile to 2400 metres, with immense natural athleticism, a high-cruising speed, and a devastating turn of foot.”
“These attributes, combined with his undaunted toughness and courage, make him this most exciting stallion prospect.”
Messara, several years forward, has been proved correct, with Dundeel passing these attributes on to his progeny.
Furthermore, his dam Amerindia (GB), bred by Jonathan Munz’s GSA Bloodstock, is a daughter of the Champion and ruler of Darley, Europe - Dubawi (Ire).
Amerindia is a half-sister to the Listed winner Important Time (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who is the dam of the dual Group 1-winner Nations Pride (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
“Militarize is by my favourite stallion. He’s got everything going for him: a lovely type of horse and a good pedigree.
“Militarize is by my favourite stallion (Dundeel). He’s got everything going for him: a lovely type of horse and a good pedigree.” - John Messara
“So far, his career has been quite brilliant, and I think there’s more to come. Arrowfield has just taken the view that if equity were available, we’d take it and sit passively and breed to him.
“There’s nothing major. There’s not some new development. Newgate has their business model, and we have our own. We’re not neighbours, but we’re not far apart.
“We know he’s a nice horse, and we recognise what a nice horse is. We breed to other stallions not standing at Arrowfield so Militarize will be one of those; we’re delighted to breed to this horse when the time comes.”
“We breed to other stallions not standing at Arrowfield so Militarize will be one of those; we’re delighted to breed to this horse when the time comes.” - John Messara
With Dundeel doing such a wonderful job at stud, and Arrowfield already standing his dual Group 1-winning son Castelvecchio, while Waikato Stud stands the G1 Caulfield Guineas victor Super Seth, where does Messara feel Militarize stands among them?
“He could become Dundeel’s best. He’s a triple Group 1 winner, but there are others of that ilk, Castelvecchio and a couple of others.
“Yes, he has the potential to be the best produced to date. But there’s more to go under the bridge before that happens.
“Plenty of nice Dundeels’ will come through in the next few weeks. Because the 3-year-olds of this year came from a crop that resulted from his first four or five Group 1 winners in his first two years, it takes this long for the produce of the breeding decisions that were made after to emerge.
Gallery: Dundeel's (NZ) sire sons
“So, the first 3-year-olds of this year are the first crop from high-quality mares Dundeel served.
“And then the 2-year-olds of this year will also be a very, very well-endowed crop for Dundeel. He’s come onto the scene very strongly because the quality of the mares has improved which seems to suit him.
“Militarize is a good-looking son of Dundeel. There’s more growth to come for him, he’s about 15.2h or 15.3h currently, so he’s not a big horse.
“He’s a compact but lovely type of horse, beautifully balanced and has a great head on him.
“He's a beautiful horse, and his performance and pedigree are the things that drew us into buying equity in Militarize.
“Dundeel’s not big, but the greatest horses in the world aren’t big either.”
“There’s more growth to come for him (Militarize), but he’s about 15.2h or 15.3h currently, so he’s not a big horse. Dundeel’s not big, but the greatest horses in the world aren’t big either.” - John Messara
Shades of brilliance
Messara loves brilliance, Dundeel had it, and Millitarize has inherited it. It has been on full display in the colt’s Group 1 performances.
“It was a Dundeel signature to have an explosive turn-of-foot. He could really quicken at the end of the races, and this boy appears to be the same.
“We’ll see more as the season continues, but we saw in the Golden Rose when Militarize was blocked for a run.
“For a good part of the straight, he had nowhere to go, and the race was nearly over when he got out. And yet he was able to quite brilliantly reel in the leader, which was a terrific, terrific thing to see.
Militarize (NZ) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“Had he had a clear run all the way up the straight, I think he’d have won that race by a length or two. That’s the credit I give him because had he been given the right passage, that’s what would have happened. Incredibly impressive.”
Future is bright
For Militarize, the future is bright on and off the track; not only will he be supported by the extensive broodmare portfolios of his current owners, but he can now add the diamonds held in Arrowfield’s broodmare band as future partners.
Field was thrilled to add Arrowfield’s support to the fold in a press release; he said, “Miltarize is an elite racehorse with an elite pedigree, and we feel honoured to welcome Arrowfield Stud into the ownership.
“The power of the Arrowfield broodmare band coupled with the broodmares owned by the many outstanding breeders in our colts partnership will give Militarize an unparalleled opportunity when he retires to stud at the completion of his racing days.”
