NZB Ready to Run Graduate Warmonger Primed for Caulfield Cup

Media Release - Wednesday October 16

New Zealand-bred galloper Warmonger will take his place among some of Australia’s elite stayers in Saturday’s A$5 million Gr.1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne.

The Caulfield Cup has been a happy hunting ground for the Kiwis, with wonder mare Verry Elleegant and the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained Mongolian Khan succeeding in the iconic race in recent times.

Warmonger won the G1 Queensland Derby by daylight - image Grant Courtney

Warmonger, a son of Inglewood Stud sire War Decree, was privately sold to Australian syndicators OTI Racing following a trial victory at Ashburton in April 2023 for initial trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong, who bought him from the NZB Ready to Run Sale for $165,000. In the care of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, he has risen to Group One stardom, with a stunning 10-length demolition in the A$1 million Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in June.

The Caulfield Cup was earmarked by the Cranbourne training partners this campaign and the four-year-old was an early favourite for the race following an impressive first-up fourth in the Gr.1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) behind Mr Brightside, Pride Of Jenni and Antino.

However, an 11th place finish in the Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) a fortnight ago has Warmonger sitting among the middle-market at $15, but his jockey, expat Kiwi Michael Dee, has faith the gelding can rise to the occasion after appearing for an exhibition gallop on Tuesday morning.

“He definitely just put in a flat performance second-up and he seems extremely well within himself, that (would indicate) he can bounce back third-up,” Dee told Racing.com.

“Not so much in his work, but just around the parade ring he was up and about, he was bouncing out of his skin.

“Any horse that goes by themselves on the outside fence at Caulfield, with so much to look at, you can’t read too much into them not smashing the clock here. He had his ears pricked, he felt good, so I’m happy with how we got around.

Advertisement

“He definitely prefers to get his toe in, so a little bit of rain on Thursday and Friday certainly will help his chances.

“I just keep going back to that first-up run where he was very good finishing off, so if he can bounce back to something like that, he’s going to be finishing off very strongly in a Caulfield Cup.”

Since Tuesday’s gallop where Dee discussed where the pair may find themselves in the running, Warmonger has drawn barrier 16 of 21 for the race, with the three emergencies all to his inside.

“I’d probably prefer to find the fence more than anything, you can get your horse relaxed and, in a rhythm, and then work out the second half from there,” Dee said.

“If we’ve got a draw where that won’t happen, we’ll work that out. They’ll be going pretty quick I would imagine and I wouldn’t think they’ll be slowing up too much.

“Ideally it’ll be a genuine tempo the whole way, so if we were to draw wide and they were running along, we could risk it a little bit and try to slot in somewhere a bit closer. It’s all something to work out when the barrier draw and the field comes out.”

Other Kiwi interest will come with multiple Group Three winner Positivity, a mare by Almanzor who gained automatic entry into the race when winning the Gr.3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) last month for trainer Andrew Forsman. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
So You Think Cognito Back in Form
Group Two winner Cognito snapped a 22-month win drought in emphatic style in Saturday’s $50,000 Join TAB Racing Club Open (1580m) at Riccarton.
Coolmore Stud Stakes On The Cards For Tycoon Star
A shot at the stallion-making Group 1 VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) looks to be on the agenda after smart Written Tycoon colt Tycoon Star recorded his second Group 3 victory, winning the MRC McNeil Stakes (1200m) on Saturday at Caulfield for Yulong.
Stakes Goals Ahead for Quality Almanzor Mare
Quality mare Mary Shan launched her spring campaign in stunning fashion when she stormed home to capture the Cloudsoft Accounting Systems Open (1200m) at Wanganui.
Grand Prairie Wins G3 Up and Coming for Yulong
The Group III ATC Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday was aptly named with a classy field of promising colts chasing a first Black Type win and it was Yulong blueblood colt Grand Prairie that took the win in somewhat controversial circumstances.
Sires With Winners - Saturday August 30
Here is the full list of 106 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Spring Contender Too Darn Discreet Wins Heatherlie Stakes
Recording her third black type victory, talented Too Darn Hot mare Too Darn Discreet appears to be on track for further spring riches after winning the Listed Heatherlie Stakes (1700m) at Caulfield for trainer Dan O’Sullivan.
Darby Win G3 San Domenico with a Gelding!
The $250,000 Group III ATC San Domenico Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday featured the return of Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night and Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton, but they were no match for the Darby Racing owned gelding Raging Force.
Hellbent Mare Cracks $3million with G3 Cockram Victory
When Grahame Begg has talented mare Magic Time ready to fire first up she rarely misses and the six year-old daughter of Hellbent produced her A game at Caulfield on Saturday to win the Group III MRC Cockram Stakes (1200m) as favourite.
Breathtaking Performance from Warmonger in Queensland Derby
With a win in the Listed VRC TAB Trophy last spring and last start runner-up in the Group 1 South Australian Derby, Warmonger presented as a promising young stayer, but nothing could prepare for his virtuoso performance in Saturday’s $1,000,000 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm.
Manikato Target For Tropicus
One of two stakes winners on the day for Darley’s Too Darn Hot at Caulfield, the impressive Group 3 MRC Heath 1100 (1100m) victory of Kia Ora’s Tropicus has connections set to target the stallion prospect at Group 1 races.