The Toowoomba-based Cifrado has firmed in 2023 J.J. Atkins betting after the Rex Lipp-trained colt scored a thrilling photo-finish upset in the Group 2 $300,000 Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) on Saturday.
Cifrado could chase the Spirit Of Boom – JJ Atkins double last completed by Rothfire (pictured in Sydney) in 2020. Photo: Steve Hart.
An early feature on the opening Group 1 meeting of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the 2023 Spirit Of Boom Classic result went down to the wire with top honours going to progressive Encryption colt Cifrado at 25/1 ($31 at Ladbrokes.com.au) who lunged right on the line to score the boilover.
The two-year-old was at $320,000 buy for Cliff Little at the 2022 Gold Coast Sales and handed his first-season sire Encryption a maiden stakes victory as a stallion.
Jockey Damien Thornton gave the Spirit Of Boom Classic winner a perfectly-time ride right up the middle of the straight making his move with 100m to travel.
In the closing stages the winning colt snuck through and got his head on the line in between the Chris Waller-trained Armed Forces (2nd) and the previously undefeated filly Appin Girl (3rd) to take out the important Group 2.
It was an improved effort from Cifrado who only broke his maiden status first-up on April 19 at Ipswich when saluting by nearly five lengths over 1100m.
He was far from disgraced when third to Appin Girl at Eagle Farm after that down in distance for the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1000m) before relishing the rise to six furlongs in the Spirit Of Boom Classic.
With the colt looking to have still been finding on the line the logical next-up option becomes the Group 1 $1 million J.J. Atkins (1600m) over the Eagle Farm mile on June 10 as part of Stradbroke Handicap Day.
Rothfire (2020) was the last juvenile to complete the Spirit Of Boom Classic – J.J. Atkins double.
All-in 2023 J.J. Atkins odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au have Cifrado into $15 to be the next and are available in full by clicking here.
2023 Spirit Of Boom Classic Results & Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | CIFRADO | Rex Lipp | Damien Thornton | 6 | 57kg | $26 | |||
| 2 | 9 | ARMED FORCES | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 0.07L | 2 | 57kg | $15 | ||
| 3 | 10 | APPIN GIRL | Steven O’Dea & Matthew Hoysted | Boris Thornton | 0.17L | 1 | 55kg | $2.70F | ||
| 4 | 1 | EMPIRE OF JAPAN | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ryan Maloney | 0.98L | 7 | 57kg | $7.50 | ||
| 5 | 6 | ADDRIEL | Annabel Neasham | Tyler Schiller (a) | 1.21L | 4 | 57kg | $7.50 | ||
| 6 | 4 | THUNDERLIPS | Bjorn Baker | Joshua Parr | 1.63L | 9 | 57kg | $15 | ||
| 7 | 8 | DUCASSE | Michael Freedman | Nash Rawiller | 1.72L | 8 | 57kg | $6 | ||
| 8 | 11 | MISS JOELENE | Kelly Schweida | James Orman | 1.85L | 10 | 55kg | $31 | ||
| 9 | 2 | SOVEREIGN FUND | Peter & Paul Snowden | Tim Clark | 2.3L | 5 | 57kg | $12 | ||
| 10 | 5 | THE KING | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ben Thompson | 3.36L | 3 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 11 | 7 | METALLIC RULER | Sam Kavanagh | Craig Williams | 4.8L | 11 | 57kg | $20 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
