Group 1 winner Warmonger switches jockeys ahead of big spring campaign

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr.-trained Warmonger is set to run this Saturday at Flemington in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m). This Melbourne Spring Carnival race will be Warmonger’s first run since hisGroup 1 Queensland Derby win last June.
 
His return to racing at Flemington on Saturday will be with a new jockey. After winning with Blake Shinn in the Queensland Derby, Michael Dee will ride Warmonger this spring.

Warmonger to make return

It has been 14 weeks since Warmonger won the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm on June 1. He has been spelled since then, but he now is ready to return to racing and potentially add to his total number of wins in Group 1 races.
 
In the past two weeks, the four-year-old has raced in a trial and a jump-out race at Cranbourne.
 
Warmonger won his first trial at Cranbourne on 26 August. He finished fourth out of six in his 1200m jump out on September 6.
 
That jump out at Cranbourne was Warmonger’s first race with new jockey Michael Dee.

Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in mind

Australian jockey Blake Shinn guided Warmonger to victory in the Queensland Derby. With the weight requirements for the upcoming Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) races on October 19 and November 6, respectively, Warmonger’s trainers have opted to go with a different jockey.
 
“Mick Dee is booked for the Caulfield Cup,” trainer Michael Kent Jr. confirmed this week.
 
“We’re expecting 53 or 53-½ kilos in the Caulfield Cup and being the same day as The Everest we wanted to get someone locked in.
 
“Blake won on him in Queensland but it’s doubtful Blake would ride that weight, so we’ve made sure we’ve got someone early,” Kent Jr. explained.

Makybe Diva Stakes preview

Warmonger won the Queensland Derby by an impressive 10.5 lengths in June. Despite this dominating performance, the four-year-old is far from being one of the Makybe Diva Stakes favourites for this Saturday’s race.
 
Most betting sites have Warmonger as one of the outsiders with $12 odds to win.  
 
Via Sistina leads the betting odds list at $2.30. Mr. Brightside, the reigning Makybe Diva Stakes winner, is next with $5 odds to win. Fellow 2023/24 Australian Horse of the Year nominees Riff Rocket ($7) and Pride Of Jenni ($10) round out the top four Makybe Diva Stakes favourites.