Group I racing for juveniles this season comes to an end on Saturday at Eagle Farm with the running of the $1million BRC JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) and for the first time in a very long time we have a two year-old that won a Group I in Sydney during the autumn pressing on to Brisbane.
Historically they invariably go to the spelling paddock to prepare for spring, so if the James Cummings trained Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Broadsiding can win he will be the first juvenile since Luskin Star in 1977 to win a G1 in Sydney and then take that form to Brisbane.
For the record, the Max Lees trained champion won the Sydney Triple Crown – Slipper, Sires and Champagne – then went north to win the QTC Sires and the JJ Atkins, which was then the Marlboro Stakes.
And for the record, he came back in the spring and won the Caulfield Guineas!
But back to Broadsiding, he does look a class above his rivals and with a good gate and James McDonald to ride is deservedly a short priced favourite with the only slight query his three wins to date have all been on soft ground and the forecast for Saturday is a good 4.
Victory will put his sire Too Darn Hot into rarefied company as a most dominant Champion Australian First Season Sire, but there are other first season sires represented in a race packed with up and comers.
Also with runners are: Zouna (Zousain), Barbaric Lad (Brutal) and Amelia’s Jewel’s half-brother Bosustow (Blue Point (IRE).
The progressive horses that ran the quinella in last week’s Listed Phoenix Stakes (1500m) are backing up with Churchill (IRE) gelding Imperialist and Hellbent filly Aemelius both in the mix.
Imperialist will be looking to continue the great record in the race for champion trainer Chris Waller, who has won it with three tiems previously most recently with The Autumn Sun, who will give the stable a second runner with promising maiden Mr Artemisia having throw at the stumps after three placings at his only starts in Sydney.
John Sargent is another trainer having a throw at the stumps with China Sea, a Fastnet Rock gelding that won on debut at Kembla last month.
He’s a half-brother to Group II winner Greysful Glamour and Group II placed Celestial Falls, so it’s not hard to see him measuring up to stakes class.
Robert and Luke Price went close to winning the Oaks with Our Gold Hope and have a live chance here with Smashing Time, who is looking to credit his young sire Brave Smash (Jpn) with a first G1 winner.
He has a win and two placings from four starts with a luckless last start fifth behind Broadsiding and a better gate this time could see him race a lot closer and surprise.
All eyes on Eagle Farm this Saturday!
