The money is coming hard and fast for Chris Waller’s dual Group 1 champion Militarize to return to winning form as the early 2023 Golden Rose Stakes betting market mover for Saturday’s $1 million feature in Sydney.

Chris Waller’s dual Group 1 winner Militarize is the early 2023 Golden Rose market mover for Saturday’s $1 million Sydney showdown. Photo: Steve Hart.

A talented line-up of three-year-olds faces off in this year’s Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens and the punters are rallying behind the Kiwi-bred Militarize second-up.

Golden Rose Stakes odds at Ladbrokes.com.au remain led by the James Cummings-trained favourite Cylinder ($4.20) with the Godolphin galloper to be ridden by the in-form Nash Rawiller from barrier six.

Exceed And Excel colt Cylinder comes off back-to-back wins this prep having won Caulfield’s Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) before his narrow last start victory at the track in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m).

Bivouac (2019) who also donned the famous Royal Blue silks was the last horse to complete the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose double that Cylinder will attempt this weekend.

There has been early support however for a couple of Waller Group 1 winners to rain on Cylinder’s parade with the stable’s returning Golden Slipper winner Shinzo ($5) and now Militarize ($6) the next best in Golden Rose Stakes betting.

Militarize was as long as $9.50 in the markets earlier in the week, but has firmed right in after coming up trumps with barrier two for the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira.

The classy Dundeel colt won the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ – Champagne Stakes double over 1400m and 1600m respectively at Randwick last prep, atoning for his 13^th to stablemate Shinzo at 100/1 in the Slipper.

Militarize caught the eye fresh crossing under a length fifth with a good run late in the Run To The Rose on a Good (4).

He would appreciate the sting out of the track, but showed he could also finish well on firmer going.

Natural improvement up to 1400m now has him presenting as a late danger again here.

Shinzo meanwhile jumps wider out from barrier 10 with Slipper winning hoop Ryan Moore back in the saddle of the Rosehill specialist (3:2-0-1).

The colt has been brought-on with two August trials including a winning hit-out over the marvel Zaaki here over 900m.

The sole filly in this year’s Golden Rose Stakes field is Charm Stone who gets the rails run from barrier one and pays $6.50 to salute.

She is a two-time winner from as many starts this prep with the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained daughter of I Am Invincible having won the Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) – Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes (1200m) double in Melbourne.

It looks a tough as in Sydney now at Group 1 level up in both grade and distance against the boys as she looks to become the first Golden Rose winning filly since Forensics back in 2008.

Completing the single-figure fancies at Golden Rose Stakes odds of $7 is the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Group 1 J.J Atkins winner King Colorado back against his own kind after a first-up ninth in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m), while Gary Portelli’s last tart Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality winner Encap is out the drift now out from $8.50 to $10.

Click here for the updated Golden Rose Stakes 2023 odds online courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of Rosehill Race 8 at 4:00pm (AEST) on Saturday.