The connections of Atomic Force will put Plan B, also known as a trip to New Zealand, into full swing after the six-year old won the Hylands Kids Colours For Christmas Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury today.
Dynamic Syndications chief Dean Watt will give his Group I winner a chance in the Group I Railway Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
On Wednesday, Atomic Force had been knocked back by the Hong Kong Jockey Club to race in their International Sprint at Sha Tin on December 11.
Watts believes Atomic Force has proven a point and teed off.
“A race that has been dominated by Australian horses throughout its 12-year history, this year will be void of a southern hemisphere runner,” he said about the Internatiional.
“It certainly calls into question the HKJC desire to make the race meeting the ‘World Championships on Turf.”
Apprentice Chad Schofield scored a last stride win aboard Atomic Force from dead-heaters Latin News and Tiger Tees.
“They went quick enough early to let me slot in one-out-one-back,” Schofield said.
“Coming to the turn I peeled out three-wide to get him rolling with his big weight.”
“He struggled to quicken but once he got balanced with his big weight he really came home.”
Watt was suitably impressed by the win.
“It’s a marvelous effort from a really honest horse,” he said.
“Credit has to go to Darren Smith (trainer) for keeping this horse for so long in such great form.”
“He’ll go and represent Australia in New Zealand.
“We’ve also received notification from Dubai to see if we’d be interested in taking him up there for the World Cup meeting.”
Australian gallopers Recurring (2005) and Gold Trail (2010) have won the Railway Stakes in recent years.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Starting Price |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | ATOMIC FORCE | Darren Smith | Chad Schofield (a3) | 7 | 62kg (cd 59kg) | $4.60 | |
2 | 4 | LATIN NEWS | David Payne | Corey Brown | 0.2L | 4 | 55kg | $8 |
2 | 7 | TIGER TEES (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Christian Reith | 0.2L | 6 | 54kg | $2.40F |
4 | 2 | KEEN COMMANDER | Jarrod Austin | Shaun Guymer (a3) | 2.4L | 5 | 61kg (cd 58kg) | $7 |
5 | 3 | NEWS ALERT | Joseph Pride | Adam Hyeronimus (a3) | 2.6L | 1 | 59kg (cd 56kg) | $6.50 |
6 | 8 | AL’S GOLD | Mick Hood | Josh Adams (a1.5) | 7.5L | 3 | 54kg (cd 52.5kg) | $21 |
7 | 6 | MY VEGAS | John McNair | Glyn Schofield | 7.6L | 2 | 54kg | $31 |
5 | FASTER SON | Trevor Bailey | Jay Ford | 0 |