ATLANTE
After missing last week’s Rosehill Guineas due to the heavy track, Atlante will be out to get his campaign back on track on Saturday in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes.
The highly rated Kiwi colt, already a Group 1 winner of the NZ 2000 Guineas, acts best on a firm track, and although unlikely to get those conditions on Saturday, he should at least get onto something better than a bog.
Atlante turned in a cracking effort first-up in Australia, finishing second behind Dissident in the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes on wet ground, before slightly disappointing but not disgracing himself in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas when sixth behind that Peter Moody-trained colt.
Importantly, Atlante gets blinkers added to his gear for the first time this campaign. He wore them when winning the 2000 Guineas in New Zealand.
And while the step up to 2000m is a tiny query, he should handle it against this easier opposition than what he has been meeting.
PHEIDON
Sharing favouritism with Atlante is the Gai Waterhouse-trained trainer Pheidon, who is back “home” after winning the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes over 2040m at Moonee Valley last month.
The improving three-year-old was a disappointing beaten favourite at Canterbury prior to heading south, but like the connections of Atlante will be hoping, the addition of blinkers switched Pheidon on and he was a dominant two-length winner.
Damien Oliver retains the ride, which is a positive sign, and unlike Atlante, Pheidon is already proven at the distance.
A big, strong son of Al Maher, he should cope with whatever conditions Rosehill throws up for Saturday, and victory in the Tulloch Stakes will see him emerge as a leading player for next week’s ATC Australian Derby.
– Racing Network
