Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Le Chef heads the local two year olds in the nominations for the Group 1 $600,000 BMW Australia J.J. Atkins (1600m) at Doomben on June 6.
Le Chef is among the nominations for the J.J. Atkins at Doomben. Photo by Steve Hart.
The Darryl Hansen trained Le Chef along with Chris Munce’s Wicket Intent will carry the Queensland flag for the two year olds during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and are two of a total of seventy-eight nominations received by the Brisbane Racing Club today.
Le Chef provided Hansen with the biggest win of his career when the Exceed And Excel youngster stormed home to win the $2m Jeep Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 10.
Hansen said that he will concentrate on a Winter program for Le Chef and will then miss the Spring Carnival with the 2016 Magic Millions 3yo Guineas (1400m) during the 2016 Magic Millions Carnival at the Gold Coast a major priority.
“He won’t be going to Melbourne,” Hansen told The Courier-Mail.
“We will put him away after the Winter Carnival and give him a nice long spell and set him for the Magic Millions three-year-old race next year.”
Le Chef will kick off his Winter Carnival campaign in the Group 2 $175,000 Bollinger Champagne Classic (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday week as will Wicked Intent.
Wicked Intent was also one of the star two year olds during the Summer and after being undefeated from his first three starts finished sixth behind Le Chef in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.
All the big stables form south of the border has multiple entries for the J.J. Atkins.
Gai Waterhouse tops the list with nine juveniles entered for the last two year old Group 1 of the 2014 – 2015 racing season, Art Of Perception, Concubine, Cyrus Rocks, Destination Tucson, Diamond Meteor, Harlem River, Ready Already, Red Knot and Sempre Libera.
Chris Waller has nominated six, Counterattack, Encosta Line, Feast For Eyes, Press Statement, So Willie and Stimac while John O’Shea has entered five youngsters, Allison, Holler, Montignac, Salt Flat and Unbiased.
Both Team Hawkes and Peter Moody have entered four each with First Precinct, Malaahy, Taaj and Zara Bay from the Hawkes stable and Admirabeel, Bassett, Cool Chap and See Line Woman from the Moody yard.
First late nominations for the J.J. Atkins close on Friday May 1 with final acceptances at 9am on Wednesday June 3, 2015.
