Militarize ‘suited perfectly’ for Ryder

The absence of a champion weight-for-age horse and the fitness doubt over Think About It has convinced jockey James McDonald that the Group 1 $1m George Ryder Stakes is the right race for Militarize at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Militarize was also among entries for the three-year-old classic, the Rosehill Guineas, but connections have decided to take on the older horses in the Ryder.

“This George Ryder doesn’t have a Winx or a Anamoe so it is the right year to tackle the older horses,’’ McDonald said.

“Militarize is suited perfectly, to be honest. He’s a very good colt and a three-time Group 1 winner. He’s a proper horse, a three-year-old on the rise and will be very hard to beat in this sort of race.’’

Militarize is the $5 second favourite for the Ryder behind $4 favourite Think About It, although there is concern about The Everest winner taking his place in the field.

Trainer Joe Pride advised Racing NSW stewards on Thursday that Think About It had a slightly elevated white blood cell count, which often indicates a viral complaint.

Pride said although Think About It is “clinically normal,” he has ordered repeat blood tests before deciding if the gelding races in the Ryder.

McDonald spoke at Rosehill trackwork on Thursday when he put Switzerland through his paces ahead of the $5m TAB Golden Slipper tomorrow.

Sydney’s champion jockey rode Switzerland and Slipper favourite Storm Boy in their last-start wins and is convinced the crack Coolmore colts are the horses to beat in the world’s richest two-year-old race.

“They look the two logical horses but anything can happen in a Golden Slipper,’’ McDonald said.

“The race is always run at a brutal speed and you need a horse that can cope with the pressure.”