Chris Waller is renowned for sticking with established templates and in two-year-old Hidden Achievement, he has a colt boasting a disarmingly similar profile to his past two J J Atkins winners.
The top trainer has claimed the juvenile feature three times, most recently with The Autumn Sun in 2018 and Press Statement three years earlier.
Both made their respective debuts in April and did their lead up racing in Sydney before heading north to capture the Group 1.
Similarly, Hidden Achievement was runner-up on debut at Canterbury in April before breaking his maiden at Gosford’s stand alone Saturday meeting last month.
While The Autumn Sun and Press Statement won the J J Atkins (1600m) at their third starts, Hidden Achievement’s program has a slight deviation – he will tackle it at his fourth and off the back of a close third behind Saturday’s rival Zebra Finch at Rosehill.
Waller says he is always mindful of what has worked in the past and believes Hidden Achievement has the quality to feature.
“There is nothing like keeping them at home and educating them, giving them a softer time up to the mile and their grand final,” Waller said.
“I think he’s got the right profile to go close.
“He has drawn reasonably well and James (McDonald) rides. He is a really nice colt.”
Waller has also made a key gear change, fitting Hidden Achievement with blinkers for the Eagle Farm assignment.
“He worked in them Saturday and Tuesday and he responded well to them,” he said.
“He won’t need them fulltime, but it well help him show a bit more aggression on Saturday.”
Waller will also be represented in the race by Providence, while Regulated Affair is a dual acceptor for Brisbane and Sydney but likely to run at his home track of Rosehill after drawing barrier 17 in the Atkins.
