AS A group 1 winner in his last campaign, Newcastle galloper Atomic Force came into yesterday’s listed Slickpix Stakes (1100 metres) as the class runner and, despite an outside barrier and topweight, he was still too good for the opposition.
”The plan was to get him down here early before all the Sydney people got down here and have a go,” trainer Darren Smith said.
”He’s really well and [has] come back well off his last campaign and showed here today that he can do it on top of the ground as well as on a wet track.”
Yesterday the $2.45 favourite Avenue went straight to the front from the outside barrier and carved out some smart sectionals through the middle stages but Atomic Force ($5.50) was able to follow her all the way.
He eased off her heels shortly after straightening and after taking over shortly afterwards went on to win by a length from Testa My Patience ($18), with Chosen To Fly ($12) half-a-length away third.
Smith admitted that yesterday’s race was not top drawer but he was pleased with how the Galaxy winner had handled the Melbourne way of going and he will now push on to the weight-for-age group 3 McEwen Stakes (1000 metres) at Moonee Valley on September 10. ”At home when we have worked him the opposite way he has always got on the right leg so we were confident he would run very well,” he said.
■Co-trainers Colin and Cindy Alderson had believed that Miss Bindi, a daughter of AJC Derby winner Don Eduardo, would not run a middle-distance but gave her a try at 2000 metres at the final run of her last campaign just to make sure.
After failing to finish that race off, her campaign was restricted to shorter events and she proved the trainers right with an emphatic first-up win in the Sportingbet Handicap (1100 metres).
”I made the mistake last campaign of thinking she could run a trip but she can’t,” Cindy Alderson said.
After settling back in the field Miss Bindi ($12) moved into the race quickly at the top of the straight before going on to score by a long neck from Status Symbol ($17), who was held up for a run in the straight.
■Veteran galloper Pinnacles was placed in a Doncaster Handicap earlier in his career but wins have been scarce for the eight-year-old in recent years. However, he responded to a positive ride by Craig Williams to return to the winning list in the Ned Wallish Handicap (1400 metres).
”I told everyone not to back him so I’m not going to be very popular when I get home,” quipped Rick Hore-Lacy, who had been concerned about the firm track yesterday, but he trainer praised the ride of Williams. ”He’s a great rider, Craig. He gets them in a good position and gives them every chance,” he said.
After coming across from a wide barrier to sit outside the leader, Pinnacles ($12) defied all attempts to be run down in the straight, defeating the $5 favourite Rightfully Yours by a long neck.
■ After she drew an inside gate, connections of Little Tycoon decided to ride the mare for luck in the Epilepsy Handicap (1400 metres) and fortunately luck came just in time, with Chris Symons able to get her through a gap to get up and beat I’m Discreet ($16), who had raced on the speed, by a long neck. ”I went to come out and got pushed back in and then had to go back to the inside and a gap opened. Luckily I was on a narrow horse,” Symons said.
■ At Rosehill, Champion jockey Glen Boss declared Smart Missile’s remarkable performance to win the group 3 Run To The Rose at Rosehill as the birth of a superstar.
The unbeaten colt, who Boss declared the best three-year-old he’s ridden and one of the best horses he’s thrown a leg over, gave his high-class rivals a big start but produced an outstanding finishing burst to have connections struggling for superlatives.
With AAP