Talented colts have won the past three runnings of the $1million Group I BRC JJ Atkins (1600m) for 2YO’s with a field of 13 accepting for this Saturday and given those past three winners – Cool Archie, Broadsiding and King Colorado - are all standing at major commercial farms this spring it’s become a must watch race.
Cool Archie was undefeated last year during his Brisbane winter campaign, racking up four successive wins before his G1 success and the son of Cool Aza Beel will stands his first season at Newhaven Park at a fee of $16,500.
Broadsiding was also a hot favourite in 2024 with a victory in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes in Sydney paving the way for his Queensland success. He covered 160 mares at Darley NSW last spring at a fee of $66,000 and drops to $55,000 this year.
King Colorado retired to Widden Victoria and his first weanlings will be offered at the Inglis Great Southern Sale this week. He started at a fee of $16,500 and is back to $13,200 this spring.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has three runners in the race – Tron Bolt, Stormy Marco and Glenorchy- with the first mentioned appearing to be the top seed on form and the good looking Toronado (IRE) colt has drawn gate nine.
Chris Waller won this race back in 2018 with another lightly raced colt carrying the Hermitage colours in The Autumn Sun, who was too good for his stablemate Zousain.
Both colts are now at stud with The Autumn Sun going on to be Champion 3YO Colt and he commands a fee of $137,500 at Arrowfield, while Zousain earned a slot on the Widden Stud roster and stands at $22,000.
The other colt engaged to run with serious future sire ambitions is the Michael Freedman trained Berzelius, who burst to prominence with a last start win in the Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes and gate five should give him the run of the race.
Being by Extreme Choice makes him a valuable commodity for the future and Kia Ora and Newgate are involved in his ownership.
Barrier draw - $1million G1 JJ Atkins (1600m) Eagle Farm
1. Berzelius (Extreme Choice) Michael Freedman / Tommy Berry (5) 57kg
2. Martist (Trapeze Artist) Tony Gollan / Mark Zahra (12) 57kg
3. Silken Salute (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) Paul Shailer / Adam Hyernomius (8) 57kg
4. Tron Bolt (Toronado (IRE)) Chris Waller / (9) 57kg
5. Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett (GB)) Chris Waller / (2) 57kg
6. Kickup Rocky ( Better Than Ready) Desleigh Forster / Daniel Moor (6) 57kg
7. Macedon Mission (The Mission) J Symons and Sheila Laxon / (11) 57kg
8. Cormier (Maurice (Jpn)) P Messara and Leah Gavranich / Aaron Bullock (4) 57kg
9. Glenorchy (Cosmic Force) Chris Waller / (13) 57kg
10. Heatstroke (Graff) R and W Freedman / Chad Schofield (3) 57kg
11. Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) Liam Birchley / Ben Thompson (1) 55kg
12. Voynichese (Pinatubo (IRE)) Nick Olive / Declan Bates (10) 55kg
13. Vanzadee (NZ) (Vanbrugh) Liam Birchley / (7) 55kg
