Dual Group One-winning sprinter Atomic Force will be an early spring visitor to Melbourne after proving his fitness with a barrier trial win over Secret Admirer at Randwick on Monday.
The winner of the 2011 Galaxy and the Railway Stakes in New Zealand on New Year’s Day, Atomic Force was ruled out of the autumn with a knee strain.
The winner of the 2011 Galaxy and the Railway Stakes in New Zealand on New Year's Day, Atomic Force was ruled out of the autumn with a knee strain. - Photo by Steve Hart
Nash Rawiller, who rode him to his Group One wins, partnered the Darren Smith-trained gelding in the trial and said he won with a bit in hand.
“Today he went through his gears and let down and obviously won the trial with a little bit in hand,” Rawiller said on owner Dynamic Syndications’ website.
“I would have liked something to have been chasing me a bit closer to the line but he feels good, he did everything right today and I couldn’t be happier.
“I think it will do his confidence the world of good coming back from injury.”
Dynamic said a decision on his immediate future would be made in the next few days with the plan to send him to Melbourne later in the week to get used to being trained in the opposite direction.
The options for his return are a Listed 1000m race at Moonee Valley on August 25 or The Heath, a Listed race over 1100m at Caulfield a week later which he won last year.
Runner-up in the trial was another Group One winner Secret Admirer who is being set for the Caulfield Cup with a possible defence of her Epsom Handicap title along the way.
Other trial winners included New Zealand Derby runner-up Rock `N’ Pop who is now with the Gai Waterhouse stable and also headed towards the Epsom in the first week of October.
