A field of potential JJ Atkins bound two-year-olds face off in the Champagne Classic 2017 field at Doomben Racecourse this weekend in Brisbane.
The Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival gets into full swing on Saturday for Doomben 10,000 Day including the $175,000 Group 2 Moet Champagne Classic (1200m) set to run as Doomben Race 4 at 2:06pm (AEST).
Leading the 14-starter Champagne Classic field are a number of top juveniles on the path towards the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) over the Eagle Farm mile on Stradbroke Handicap Day next month.
Currently the shortest-priced of Saturday’s Champagne Classic contenders in all-in JJ Atkins betting at Ladbrokes.com.au are Snitzkraft and All Too Huiying at $15.
Kelso Wood & Patricia Gesler saddle-up Snitzkraft second-up on Saturday from barrier nine with Luke Dittman booked to ride the consistent Snitzel colt.
Dittman has ridden the youngster for all five of his career starts to date, including the last start third when only two lengths beaten at Eagle Farm on April 29 in the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m).
He returns to Doomben for a third time having finished runner-up in December’s Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1100m) on debut at the track before a 1200m win to break his maiden status in January.
All Too Huiying meanwhile is a son of All Too Hard, the Gary Moore-trained colt prepared in Sydney and heading up to Brisbane for the first time on Saturday.
He remains a maiden from five career runs to date, but has been competitive in good company over the autumn including his third behind Whispered Secret in the wet at Randwick on April 8 in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m).
Saturday sees All Too Huiying drop back in distance and he’ll be better suited over further, plus has plenty of work to do from out wide in barrier 13 of 14.
Drawn better in barrier four with Damian Browne to ride is the Chris Munce-trained Ours To Keep who beat Snitzkraft home to win the Phelan Ready Stakes last year.
The Seidnazar colt backed-up from that posting a third win on the trot in Eagle Farm’s Group 3 B.J. McLachlan Stakes (1200m) before an unplaced run at the Gold Coast behind Houtzen in the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Ours To Keep has had the one run since with a fourth in the Dalrello Stakes, a performance he’ll be improving on second-up getting back to his pet track Doomben where he remains undefeated.
The rails run on Saturday belongs to the Peter & Will Hulbert-trained Showashadow, the Dane Shadow filly coming off a 1000m win at Eagle Farm.
Kiwi hoop Opie Bosson comes on for the ride this weekend, while stablemate Cooroi Chase starts from barrier eight with Micheal Hellyer aboard.
Other key contenders including Tony Gollan’s returning Star Witness filly She’s Our Star who has form around subsequent Magic Millions Classic winner Houtzen and the Chris Waller-trained Tangled coming off a 1350m win at Wyong.
Check out the full Champagne Classic 2017 field & barriers below before heading to Ladbrokes.com.au to check out all the early Group 1 betting action including markets on the JJ Atkins 2017.
2017 Champagne Classic Final Field & Barrier Draw
Doomben Race 4 (2:06pm) – 13/05/2017
# | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1x119x4 | OURS TO KEEP | Chris Munce | Damian Browne | 4 | 57kg |
2 | 2011×3 | SNITZKRAFT | Kelso Wood & Patricia Gesler | Luke Dittman | 9 | 57kg |
3 | 42×653 | ALL TOO HUIYING | Gary Moore | Brenton Avdulla | 13 | 57kg |
4 | 415x | PAH TERIE | Kelly Schweida | Jeff Lloyd | 6 | 57kg |
5 | 61 | NOBLE HUSSLER | Liam Birchley | Brad Stewart | 5 | 57kg |
6 | 4×51 | TANGLED | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 57kg |
7 | 5451×5 | ZUKAZ | Stuart Kendrick | Luke Tarrant | 11 | 57kg |
8 | 64 | ICON OF DUBAI | Peter & Paul Snowden | TBA | 12 | 57kg |
9 | 45 | HOLBROOK (NZ) | Scott Morrisey | TBA | 2 | 57kg |
10 | 12 | COOROI CHASE | Peter & Will Hulbert | Micheal Hellyer | 8 | 55kg |
11 | 1x3x | SHE’S OUR STAR | Tony Gollan | Robbie Fradd | 3 | 55kg |
12 | 41x | SHOWASHADOW | Peter & Will Hulbert | Opie Bosson | 1 | 55kg |
13 | 4572×476 | PRICING POWER | Clarry Conners | Jim Byrne | 14 | 55kg |
14 | 5 | ITALIA BELLA | Stuart Kendrick | James Orman | 10 | 55kg |