The Group 1 JJ Atkins, formerly run as the T. J. Smith Stakes, has been a good race for Nash Rawiller in recent years, having claimed this feature last year on Romantic Touch and in 2010 for trainer Chris Waller when piloting Pressday to victory. Rawiller will team up with Waller again this year as he looks to further enhance his race record with hot favourite Brazen Beau. The son of I Am Invincible has won two of his four starts and dominates the betting at $2.15. Second favourite is Almalad at $5.00 who will be out to give trainer Gai Waterhouse successive victories in the race with local hope Looks Like The Cat, Victorian visitor Pressing, and Time For War, who defeated Brazen Beau last start, the only other hope in the race according to the market at $7, $8 and $9 respectively.
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JJ Atkins 2014 field
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BRAZEN BEAU | Chris Waller | Nash Rawiller | 4 | 57kg | |
| 2 | TIME FOR WAR | Gerald Ryan | Tye Angland | 1 | 57kg | |
| 3 | PRESSING | Mick Price | Damien Oliver | 3 | 57kg | |
| 4 | MOHAVE | John O’Shea | Hugh Bowman | 8 | 57kg | |
| 5 | LOOKS LIKE THE CAT | Tony Gollan | Damian Browne | 6 | 57kg | |
| 6 | ALMALAD | Gai Waterhouse | Tommy Berry | 9 | 57kg | |
| 7 | CARELESS | John O’Shea | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 57kg | |
| 8 | FURBISH | Allan Denham | Jim Byrne | 10 | 57kg | |
| 9 | STROAK | Bryan Guy | Michael Cahill | 7 | 55kg | |
| 10 | SAGATONA | Liam Birchley | Glen Boss | 5 | 55kg | |
| 11 | EMOTIONS IN MOTION | Tony Bita | Tegan Harrison (a) | 2 | 55kg |
1. BRAZEN BEAU – N Rawiller (4)
Impressive winner of the G2 Champagne Stakes before settling midfield as the odds on favourite in the G2 Sire’s Produce Stakes (1350m). Peeling out wide to make his run around the turn, Brazen Beau lost a vital length on the leader and eventual winner Time For War who pinched the winning margin upon straightening and held on for a neck win. Hit the line well last start and the bigger Eagle Farm circuit will suite. He has drawn perfectly in four and clearly rates on top.
2. TIME FOR WAR – T Angland (1)
The Snitzel colt got back from a wide draw and never threatened when tenth of eleven in the G2 Champagne Stakes before, from the inside gate, being ridden more aggressively and leading the field in the G2 Sire’s Produce. The Gerald Ryan trained runner was far more comfortably rolling along out in front and was able to pinch a vital break straightening that enabled him to hold off the fast-finishing Brazen Beau by a neck. Winner of three of his five starts, leading on each occasion, and will take up that role again her from the inside gate.
3. PRESSING – D Oliver (3)
He couldn’t have been more impressive winning his first two starts, a Caulfield Open class (1200m) and the Listed Dandenong Stakes before coming to Brisbane and lining up in the G2 Sire’s Produce. The son of Sebring, as he did in his previous starts, settled at the tail of the field and could only manage ninth (6.4 lengths) before Time For War. Winner did dictate speed from out in front last start and crossing the road to the roomier Eagle Farm track over the mile, should see a significant improvement.
4. MOHAVE – J Bowman (8)
Home only fairly when finishing fifth (5.5 lengths) first up in the G2 Champagne Stakes behind Brazen Beau before drawing wide and settling at the tail of the field in the G2 Sires’ Produce last fortnight. The Darley runner had no option from that position but to try and pick runs through the big field and his effort to finish sixth (4.7 lengths) wasn’t a bad one. Drawn wide again so expect him to get back in the run but should get his chance to finish off here and might be one at value for multiples.
5. LOOKS LIKE THE CAT – D Browne (6)
First up from a spell, at only his second race start, the Husson colt produced a great effort to finish second behind Brazen Beau in the G2 Champagne Stakes. He then drew wide in the Sires’ Produce but pushed forward from his draw to sit second in the run behind eventual winner Time For War, who jumped from the inside gate. He looked under pressure rounding the turn but stuck on tenaciously to claim third (1.3 lengths). Both runs have been very good and rates an obvious chance.
6. ALAMALD – T Berry (9)
Al Maher gelding who made it two from two with a very smart 3.5 length win at Randwick a fortnight ago over 1200m. Jumps up in both class and distance here, and will come from the second to widest gate, but did let down well last start and looks to have plenty of ability. Trainer won this race last year so will have a good gauge but has drifted early in betting ($4.50 out to $5.00)
7. CARELESS – K McEvoy (11)
Still a maiden after five starts but going on his last start performance in the G2 Sires’ Produce, the Exceed and Excel colt won’t be for much longer. He got back in the last quarter of the field in the Sires’ and it wasn’t until they were inside of the last furlong that he got to the outside and balanced up. Stretched out nicely over the final stages to run fifth (3.4 lengths), suggesting the mile will be very much to his liking. Will be giving them a start again from the widest gate but gets his chance to run them down up the long Eagle Farm straight. Off of his last start effort, $19.00 seems generous.
8. FURBISH – J Byrne (10)
Won his first two starts in a good manner but stepping up to the stronger class of races has seen the Collate gelding struggle. He has settled back in both the G2 Champagne Stakes and G2 Sires’ Produce before finishing eighth on each occasion. Needed to have shown more in both runs to be considered among the better hopes here.
9. STROAK – M Cahill (7)
After her efforts in her first preparation, which included a head second to Unencumbered in the G3 McLachlan Stakes and a fast-finishing fifth in the Magic Millions, it’s fair to say that the Bryan Guy trained runner as been disappointing in two runs back. She never threatened first up in the G2 Champagne Stakes, finishing seventh (seven lengths) and was weak in the Sires’ when twelfth, over seven lengths from the winner. Not going well enough at the moment.
10. SAGATONA – G Boss (5)
Relished the heavy track two starts back to produce a big finish and run a head second to Aimee in the Ken Russell Stakes before settling at the tail of the field in the Sires’. The Real Saga filly was checked on the turn and had nowhere to go in the straight so best not to judge her eleventh (7.3 lengths) too harshly. A better horse than that but still searching for her maiden win and there are easier races than this available for her.
11. EMOTIONS IN MOTION – T Harrison (2)
Broke through for her maiden win, at career start number five, two runs back when successful in a Sunshine Coast Maiden on a slow track but was easily accounted for when contesting the Listed Phoenix Stakes last week, running thirteenth and almost ten lengths behind winner, Lucky Tom. This race no easier.
JJ Atkins 2014 odds comparison:
RACE OVERVIEW
Time For War leads away but Brazen Beau will be keeping a close tab on him this time and from gate four, will have him firmly in his sights throughout. In a relative small field, this pair should be in the box seat throughout and go close to running the quinella again. Almalad is very smart and will win a good race during his career, whether he is quite ready for it now is the concern. Careless might be the upset if there is one. Liked his finishing effort last start and hopefully over a mile, he won’t get as far back as he did last start.
- BRAZEN BEAU
- TIME FOR WAR
- CARELESS
- ALMALAD
News:
Trainer Tony Gollan is determined his family’s run of bad luck in Group One races at Eagle Farm is about to end.
Gollan has a strong hand in Saturday’s Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) with Spirit Of Boom and Temple Of Boom, and a genuine Queensland Derby (2400m) hopeful in Amexed.
To round out a Group One day, Gollan’s two-year-old Looks Like The Cat is a top hope in the J J Atkins Stakes (1600m).
It isn’t the first time a member of the Gollan family has been associated with Queensland’s biggest races.
Gollan’s father Darryl has been one of Queensland’s best known trainers and owners for many years and part-owned Dalrello, trained by the late J J Atkins.
Dalrello’s 18 wins included four Group Ones in Sydney – the Doncaster Handicap, two All Aged Stakes and the George Ryder Stakes – and several of Brisbane’s better races including the Queensland Guineas.
But he could not win a Group One race in Brisbane.
Dalrello ran second as favourite in the 1974 Queensland Derby after running second in the Grand Prix Stakes. He was also an unlucky second twice in the J T Delaney Quality which is now the Group One BTC Cup.
But the race which really rankled Atkins and Darryl Gollan was the 1976 Stradbroke when Dalrello was favourite and travelling well, but lost his jockey Larry Olsen in a scrimmage.
Darryl Gollan said even 40 years later it still hurt.
“He was such a great horse he deserved to win a really big race in Brisbane. But he would race off the pace and rocket home so I suppose he was always a candidate for trouble,” Darryl Gollan said.
Meanwhile, Tony Gollan, who has won three Group One races but none at Eagle Farm, was happy when his Doomben 10,000 winner Spirit Of Boom drew barrier six in Saturday’s Stradbroke.
“The 1400 metres is probably the limit of his distance range but from this alley we can ride him where we want to. He should be forward of midfield with some cover,” he said.
“I have no doubt he is a better horse this year than last year when he was fourth.”
Gollan isn’t as thrilled with Temple Of Boom’s barrier 18 but believes he is still in with a chance.
“He will go forward and with some luck will give them something to beat,” he said.
Gollan’s Derby hope Amexed is also given a strong chance of improving on his last-start fourth in the Grand Prix two weeks ago.
“His jockey Michael Rodd admitted he rode him to suit the track bias last start which favoured front runners. This time we will ride him as a stayer,” Gollan said.
Looks Like The Cat drew midfield in the J J Atkins which also pleased Gollan.
“He will be a lot fitter for his first-up third in the BRC Sires’,” he said.