The last Group I 2YO race of the season will be run at Eagle Farm on Saturday with a big field of 14 to contest the BRC JJ Atkins (1600m) and half of the runners are by first season sires!
It’s been well documented how incredibly successful this current crop of young sires have been with eight of them producing stakes-winners – Capitalist (4), Extreme Choice (3), Frosted (USA) (2), Astern (2, 1 in NZ) and the following horses all siring one – Shalaa (IRE), Flying Artie, Star Turn and Rebel Dane,
Since the start of the year first season sires have sired Shaquero to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic (Shalaa), Artorius (Flying Artie) to win the Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, Profiteer (Capitalist) to win the Inglis Millennium, Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) to win the Group I ATC Golden Slipper, Captivant (Capitalist) to win the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes and Tiger of Malay (Extreme Choice) to win the Group II BRC Sires Produce.
While race favourite Converge does look hard to beat and may well give Frankel his third Australian Group I winner this season, the following runners will fly the flag for the first season horses and to see full Sale Mail for Eagle Farm click here.
Extreme Choice - Tiger of Malay
Rebel Dane – Subterranean
Maurice (Jpn) – Port Louis, Invisible Tears
Flying Artie - Giannis
Astern – Dark Rebel
Divine Prophet – Three Wise Men
While the race to be Champion First Season Sire has been a close one between Newgate barn mares Extreme Choice and Capitalist, the former has a chance here to put the issue to bed as the JJ Atkins .carries $1million in prizemoney.
