The JJ Atkins, recently known as the TJ Smith, is a Group 1 horse race held each year at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane. Run over 1600 metres and worth $500,000 in prize money, The JJ Atkins is one of three Group 1 events held on Stradbroke Handicap Day each June, along with the Stradbroke Handicap and Queensland Derby. This event has grown to become an elite two-year-old race, attracting a strong field of local and interstate horses each year.
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Inaugurated in 1893, this event has been through a number of changes over the years. Originally called the Claret Stakes, it has also been held as the Castlemaine Stakes, Castlemaine QTC Classic, and TJ Smith among others. The JJ Atkins was originally a Principal Race, becoming a Group 2 race in 1980 and a Group 1 race a few years later in 1985. Originally run over 6 furlongs, The JJ Atkins became a 7 furlong race in 1905, an 8 furlong race in 1955, and a 1600 metre race in 1973.
A number of notable names have won this event over the years, including Mahogany in 1993, Zeditave in 1988, Show A Heart in 2000, and Darci Bramha in 2005.
Karunda, Le Strom, and Femme Fatale are a few of the earlier winners, with recent winners including Pressday in 2010, Benfica in 2011, Sizzling in 2012, and Romantic Touch in 2013.
Horses may come into this event from the Group 2 Champagne Stakes and Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes, with some horses managing to win all three races in the same season. Recent winners Sizzling in 2012 and Pressday in 2010 managed to achieve this amazing feat. Recent two-year-olds to win the Sires Produce Stakes and The JJ Atkins double include Sizzling in 2012, Pressday in 2010, Lovely Jubly in 2002, Juanmo in 2001, Al Mansour in 1997, Anthems in 1996, Mahogany in 1993, and Slight Chance in 1992.
Winners of The JJ Atkins often go on to bigger things later in their career, with Shoot Out (7th in 2009) running seventh in this race before winning the Group 1 AJC Derby and Pressday in 2010 going on to win the Group 2 Sandown Guineas at Sandown. This event has grown to become an important part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, as a major supporting race on Eagle Farm’s biggest day of the year, Stradbroke Handicap Day.
JJ Atkins 2014 odds comparison
News:
Bookmakers are not on his side but statistics suggest Sydney colt Time For War will be hard to beat in the Group One JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Time For War won the first leg of the Brisbane two-year-old double, the BRC Sires two weeks ago but is only fifth favourite for the Atkins (1600m).
In an amazing statistic, Time For War, at his current quote of $9, is likely to start the longest-priced winner of the Sires to run in the Atkins.
The Sires has always been the best guide to the Atkins which has had five different names since it was first run in 1976.
The champion sprinter Romantic Dream completed the double that year and since then another 12 juveniles have won both.
Three of the past four winners of the Sires – Zoustar, Sizzling and Pressday, have gone on to win the Atkins.
As two Sires have been washed out in that period it means the race winners have a 33 per cent win strike rate in the Atkins.
On top of that a further seven Sires winners have been placed in the Atkins.
Bookmakers and punters have taken a set against Time For War because for the first time the Sires was run at Doomben and the track had a major leader bias.
Time For War’s trainer Gerald Ryan isn’t getting carried away but pointed out his colt had run fourth in the AJC Sires on a bog track.
“He led all the way last time and did the hard work. He deserves his chance at another Group One,” Ryan said.
Meanwhile, syndicate boss Grant Morgan believes his runner Brazen Beau, who was an unlucky second in the Sires, will justify his short quote ($2.10 fav) in the Atkins.
“Nash (Rawiller) got off him after the Sires and said he could hardly wait for the Atkins. He felt the 1600m would suit him perfectly,” Morgan said.
Brisbane trainer Liam Birchley has called on Group One star Glen Boss to turn around the fortunes of his filly Sagatona, who has been specked at huge odds in the Atkins.
Sagatona, who is generally regarded as the best maiden two-year-old in Queensland, has been hamstrung by wet tracks and bad barriers for much of her career.
However, Birchley said he had been waiting to get her out to 1600m.