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By Ray Hickson

It took jockey Tommy Berry just one ride in an exhibition gallop to become a fan of comeback galloper Militarize and he feels he’s on the dark horse in Saturday’s Group 1 $750,000 Toyota Forklifts Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick.

Tommy Berry (Pic: Bradley Photos)

That gallop was last weekend between races as Militarize, now a gelding and returning from an unsuccessful stint at stud, worked with stablemate Switzerland.

Berry said as a multiple Group 1 winner a horse like Militarize is easy to like but from where he was sitting he’d be surprised if he doesn’t run a big race fresh.

“He impressed me quite a bit. I haven’t had a lot to do with the horse but his form is hard to miss,’’ he said.

“I reckon he’s the forgotten horse of the weekend, due to the fact he hasn’t been around for a while.

“He’s got great first-up stats, he ran second to Fangirl first-up last prep, he’s been sharp in his work and that showed in his gallop last Saturday.”

Militarize, $18 with TAB on Thursday, hasn’t raced since last autumn where he followed that first-up placing in the Apollo with placings in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas, George Ryder and Doncaster Mile.

“I haven’t seen too many horses go backwards from being gelded, that’s for sure,’’ Berry said.

“He’s no different from what the guys tell me at home, he’s working as good or better as he was at three.

“He’s a pretty straightforward horse, there’s not much to know about him he just goes about his business.”

Trainer Chris Waller said Militarize has been back in work since late November and said he doesn’t see a lot of difference between the horse that left to go to stud and the one that returned a gelding.

He’s just wary that the race might be a bit sharp for him fresh off an extended break.

“He’s had two good trials and he was nice and sharp (in his gallop) as well, I guess 1300m is a touch short for Militarize,’’ Waller said.

“He’s fantastic, I’m not concerned about what he’s done off the racetrack.

“He’s so professional, he doesn’t show tendencies of being colty or worrying about other things. He’s always a workman and he’s never wavered from that.”

Waller said the Canterbury Stakes will tell him a lot about which races to target with the four-year-old and that all options are open at this point.

“He's a racehorse we’ve got for the next two or three years so he’ll get a few grand finals,’’ he said.

“A race like the Doncaster, without speaking to (Newgate boss) Henry Field, is probably one of his main targets that’s if we don’t go down the weight for-age path.”

Meanwhile, Berry is adamant that two-year-old Pallaton should be forgiven for his failure when fourth behind Shaggy in the Pierro Plate three weeks ago.

While he wasn’t on board that day due to recovering from injury, Berry said what he’s seen since that run tells him he should be competitive and put his name back in the Golden Slipper picture in the Group 2 $300,000 Darley Todman Stakes (1200m).

Pallaton tracked Shaggy in the run and when he was pulled across heels to chase him down he could only hold his ground and run fourth.

“It was a bit disappointing on face value but he was first-up after a break,’’ Berry said.

👀 EXHIBITION GALLOPS 👀

Switzerland/Militarize 800m - 53.51/38.40
Sunshine In Paris/Depth Of Character - 1000m 1:04.80/36.48
North England/Ikasara - 800m 48.22/34.25 pic.twitter.com/QwZgqQhpel

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 1, 2025

“He had a good blow after the race and he’s taken improvement from that. I’ve sat on him a few times since then and he couldn’t be going any better at home.

“He’s drawn a bit awkward but he’s got nice tactical speed, he can put himself in the race.

“I know a lot of people have dropped off him but I think they’ll be talking about him again after the weekend.”

Tommy Berry on Athabascan (Race 9): “He was hard to miss (first-up), it’s probably the best he’s come back. I galloped him on Tuesday morning and I said the same to John (O’Shea). He’s always been a casual sort of horse but he’s working a bit sharper and it was a sharper performance first-up than what he’s given in the past. He might hit that bit of a flat run second-up but his main aim is the Sydney Cup. Even though we’re expecting a nice run he will improve a bit on that.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s meeting at Randwick