Gai Waterhouse and Chris Waller have matched numbers with ten nominations each for the Group 1 $600,000 BMW J.J. Atkins (1600m) to be run at Eagle Farm on June 11.
The Kelso Wood trained Nikitas is among the nominations for the J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Waller is looking for back to back wins and his third overall after winning the Group 1 for the two year olds last year with Press Statement and in 2010 with his half brother Pressday.
Waller’s ten entries among the ninety-two nominations for this year’s J.J. Atkins are Betcha Thinking, Comin’ Through, Earth, Klarik, Profusive, Raise An Army, Shaolin Kungfu, Thai Boxing, Veladero and Wine Bush.
Waterhouse is also chasing her third J.J. Atkins wins after claiming the trophy with Romantic Touch in 2013 and Almalad the following year and is giving herself every chance after nominating Aurora Rose, Fiery Trail, Kenzie, Lavender Hill, Orleans, Piping Hot, Prompt Response, Purrari, Serena’s Pride and Vasiliev.
Beneteau filly Prompt Response is the best performed Waterhouse youngster among her entries and looked very good in recording a four and a half lengths win in a 1200m Maiden on the Beaumont track at Newcastle on April 21.
The powerful Godolphin team, prepared by trainer John O’Shea, is also relying on numbers with seven two year olds among the ninety-two nominations – Achi Baba, Chipanda, Flow, Kent, Retaliation, Souchez and Witches.
Team Hawkes is also well represented with the father and sons’ training partnership nominating six juveniles for the J.J. Atkins – Gold Artisan, Inference, Intueri, Palladian, Primavera and Canterbury maiden winner Redouble.
Well performed local two year olds Nikitas from the Kelso Wood stable and the Steven O’Dea trained Candika are also among the nominations for the J.J. Atkins.
Nikitas and Candika showed that they were well above average after finishing second and third behind subsequent Golden Slipper winner Capitalist in the $2m Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast on January 9.
The final field for the J.J. Atkins will be released on Wednesday June 8, 2016.
