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The punters are rallying around the Chris Waller-trained Militarize to break a lengthy winning drought with the five-year-old sitting top of the 2026 Ajax Stakes betting markets at Rosehill on Saturday.
It has been a long time between drinks for the son of Dundeel whose last turf triumph was right back in the 2023 Golden Rose as a three-year-old.
Despite the gap between then and now, there’s heavy early money coming for him to return to winning form with Militarize the firming $3.60 favourite through Ladbrokes.com.au to take out the Group 2 $300,000 Ajax Stakes (1500m) and the accompanying Doncaster Mile ballot exemption.
Waller has prepared three Ajax Stakes winners since 2017, the latest being Democracy Manifest in 2024, and he’ll saddle-up the best in betting in 2026.
Militarize runs in the event second-up after crossing under two lengths back fourth fresh behind King Of Roseau at Randwick on February 28 in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup (1300m).
The step-up to 1500m now looks to suit, he’s drawn the inside alley and the ultra-consistent James McDonald sticks aboard this weekend.
The biggest threat stopping Militarize from getting his confidence back with a win is his last start winning stablemate Lord Penman ($4.80).
The airborne Zac Lloyd partners the four-year-old Contributer gelding from wider out in gate 10 but there remains plenty to like about the Kiwi expat.
He got his latest prep underway here at Rosehill in a BM100 handicap over 1400m on February 21 and, while he rises notably in grade now second-up chasing successive victories, he could prove hard to deny coming right back weight-wise from 57kg to 53kg on the weekend.
It’s a wide-open affair with a further three single-figure fancies in the markets including the resuming Globe ($5) carrying the 59kg topweight but deservingly so.
Hailing from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr yard, the seven-year-old son of Charm Spirit races for the first time since taking out the Group 1 Might And Power (2000m) over Treasurethe Moment at Caulfield last October.
Huge in that putting three lengths on a cracking field of rivals, he gets a chance now down in grade off two excellent lead-up trial wins.
His latest hit out at Randwick on March 5 saw him beat Vivy Air by over four lengths and he looks ready to go drawn the outside alley (11) in the Ajax with his trial winning jockey Tommy Berry coming aboard for his first race day ride on the gun galloper.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained Enxuto ($6.50) enjoying a purple patch of form and the Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained Cristal Clear ($8.50) complete the Ajax Stakes hopes under $10 for the win.
Saturday sees Enxuto run at Rosehill for the first time with the in-form five-year-old heading north on the back of two eye-catching runs at Flemington including his second behind Birdman in last month’s Group 2 Blamey Stakes.
Cristal Clear meanwhile races first-up with the Exceedance four-year-old chasing his third win from five starts at the Rosehill track.
He was far from disgraced in the spring with his latest two runs both producing close sixth place efforts in the $10 million Golden Eagle behind super mare Autumn Glow and Gringotts in the $3 million The Big Dance.
Having held his own against some of the best in the business, he’s out to go to another level this campaign and put the writing on the wall with his latest trial win earlier this month.
The 2026 Ajax Stakes is set to run as Rosehill Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT) as the penultimate event on the Coolmore Classic Day card.
Ajax Stakes 2026 Odds
|
1. Globe (11)
J: Tommy Berry 59kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation by 3 len Caulfield G1 Caulfield Stks October 11 over 2000m defeating Treasurethe Moment carrying 59kg at $8.50. When resuming last campaign second of 10 at Moonee Valley 4yo+ Hcp August 23 over 1523m, a long neck behind Hard To Cross with 59kg at $4.80. | ||
|
2. Militarize (1)
J: James McDonald 57.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Second run back. First-up after four months 4th of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Liverpool on February 28 over 1300m, slow going 2 len behind King Of Roseau carrying 56.5kg at $4.20. Previously second-up second last of 8 at Randwick 7 Stakes on September 20 over 1600m, 4.5 len behind Fangirl carrying 59kg at $21. | ||
|
3. Robusto (5)
J: Tim Clark 57kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| First-up. Finished off last preparation when last of 10 at Wyong The Lakes January 10 over 1600m, 13 len behind Chica Mojito with 61kg at $7. When resuming last campaign seventh of 16 at Newcastle in the G2 The Hunter November 15 over 1300m, 2.5 len behind Coal Crusher carrying 59kg at $17. | ||
|
4. Sandpaper (4)
J: Jason Collett 56.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| Returns from a 35-day let-up. Most recently faded in the straight 5th of 8 at Caulfield in the G3 Heffernan on February 7 over 1400m, 4 len behind Tom Kitten carrying 59kg at $8.50. Before that won by a long-neck at Randwick LR Carrington January 24 over 1400m defeating Thunderlips carrying 59kg at $2.70. | ||
|
5. Willaidow (7)
J: Chad Schofield 56kg
T: Marc & Mitchell Conners |
||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. First-up ran on from midfield and won by a nose at this track G3 Japan Ra Plate January 31 over 1200m defeating The Instructor with 56kg at $4.60. Second-up sat on the speed throughout before fading 10th of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Liverpool on February 28 over 1300m, slow going 6 len behind King Of Roseau carrying 55kg at $13. | ||
|
6. Lord Penman (10)
J: Zac Lloyd 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Second-up. First-up after four months favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a long-neck at this track Jamesruse February 21 over 1400m defeating Palmetto with 57kg at $2.40. Previously second-up 7th of 11 at Randwick Bm88 on September 20 over 1600m, 2 len behind Fortune carrying 59kg at $2.35. | ||
|
7. Enxuto (2)
J: Tyler Schiller 53kg
T: Robbie Griffiths |
||
| Dual acceptor. Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up came home strongly from last on the turn; 3rd of 8 at Flemington in the LR The Elms Hcp on February 14 over 1400m, 0.8 len behind Cafe Millenium carrying 56kg at $8.50. Last start made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 10 at Flemington in the G2 Blamey on February 28 over 1600m, 1.75 len behind Birdman with 55kg at $7. | ||
|
8. Cristal Clear (3)
J: Braith Nock 53kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
||
| Dual acceptor. Is first-up after a break of four-and-a-half months and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last campaign sixth of 20 at Randwick in the LR Big Dance November 4 over 1600m, soft track; 3 len behind Gringotts with 53kg at $7.50. When resuming last campaign fourth of 7 at Warwick Farm Bm72 July 30 over 1300m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind The Replicant with 58.5kg at $11. Looks forward enough after a recent trial win. | ||
|
9. War Eternal (9)
J: Rachel King 53kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| At the latest run 5th of 13 at Canberra in the LR Nat Sprint on March 8 over 1400m, slow going 2.5 len behind Green Fly carrying 54.5kg at $7. Before that 4th of 9 at this track Jamesruse on February 21 over 1400m, 1.5 len behind Lord Penman carrying 57kg at $26. | ||
|
10. Portland (6)
J: Kerrin Mcevoy 53kg
T: Matthew Smith |
||
| Dual acceptor. Second-up today. Last outing eased back early on 7th of 12 at Randwick in the G3 Liverpool on February 28 over 1300m, slow going 5 len behind King Of Roseau with 53.5kg at $201. At only start last preparation 7th of 20 at Naas Hcp on October 13 2024 over 3218m, 7 len behind Comfort Zone with 58kg at $9. | ||
|
11. Thunderlips (8)
J: Dylan Gibbons 53kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| Most recently ran last of 9 at this track Jamesruse on February 21 over 1400m, 8 len behind Lord Penman with 56kg at $5. Before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 15 at Randwick Gardenia on February 7 over 1600m, 5.5 len behind Sun God carrying 55kg at $9.50. | ||
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