“I am very happy and satisfied that she has been retired safe and well, she hasn’t been over-raced and with her size, temperament and pedigree, she is going to make a lovely broodmare."
The opening race at Caulfield on Saturday was named in honour of an iconic New Zealand-bred champion, and it was fitting that Dunkel won it with some of the stamina and toughness that top-flight Kiwi stayers are renowned for.
Quality stayer Dunkel lumped 61kgs to an emphatic victory at The Valley on Saturday in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (2040m), as the Patrick Payne-trained galloper notched the seventh victory of his career from just ten starts.
Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller believes Militarize is a champion in the making, and is confident he can take a step closer to that level when he contests Saturday’s Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m).