Atomic Force will have his first look at the Moonee Valley circuit in a track gallop on Tuesday morning ahead of Saturday’s Group Three McEwen Stakes.
The winner of the Group One Galaxy (1100m) on a heavy track at Randwick last April, Atomic Force goes into the McEwen as a last start winner of the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 27.
That was his first start in Melbourne when ridden by Damien Oliver.
Apart from the Danehill Dancer six-year-old, Group Two winner Satin Shoes, Centexpress and Eight Bills will also appear at Moonee Valley.
Prepared at Newcastle by Darren Smith, Atomic Force is one of three Group One winners nominated for the 1000m weight-for-age sprint, the others being Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and Hong Kong sprinter Happy Zero, now under the care of the Hawkes family training partnership.
Happy Zero, a winner at eight of his 14 starts, won the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup (1400m) at Sha Tin in March last year with Darren Beadman in the saddle.
The Danzero seven-year-old gelding, with a rating of 114, is the highest rated horse in the field ahead of Crystal Lily and Atomic Force (109).
Avenue, Buffering, Curtana, Facile Tigre, First Command, Kulgrinda, Morgan Dollar, Periduki, Shrapnel, Streetcar Magic and Zedi Knight are all entered for the McEwen.
Avienus, who hasn’t won since last year’s Group Two W H Stocks Stakes (1600m), will also gallop at Moonee Valley ahead of the same race on Saturday.
The Mark Webb-trained mare, who ran sixth to So You Think in last year’s Cox Plate, is ready to improve over a longer trip after two unplaced efforts in shorter races last month.
AJC Australian Oaks winner Absolutely, Memsie Stakes winner King’s Rose, Lady Lynette, Pinker Pinker, Platinum Passion and Southern Speed are all among the Stocks entries.
The Bart Cummings stable will take five horses to Moonee Valley to work on Tuesday morning including Moonee Valley Cup winner Precedence and Do You Think.
Precedence and American galloper Unusual Suspect received equal topweight of 62kg in the Open Handicap (1600m).
Starcraft colt Do You Think, a Group Three winner over 1400m at Rosehill on Golden Slipper day in April, received 57.5kg in the Three-Year-Old Handicap (1500m).
AAP TURF
